“Marijuana: America’s Second Prohibition”

Throughout most of human history, the drug commonly known as marijuana has been completely legal. In actuality Marijuana has only been Illegal for Less than 1% of the time it has been in use. Its known uses date back further than 7,000 B.C. Many people assume that marijuana was made illegal through some kind of process involving scientific, medical, and government hearings; that it was to protect the citizens from what was considered to be a dangerous drug. The truth reveals a much different picture. Those who voted on the legal fate of this plant never had the facts, but were dependent on information supplied by individuals who had a specific agenda to mislead lawmakers. People who support marijuana prohibition claim that marijuana is unhealthy and dangerous. These arguments are not consistent with the fact that the two most deadly drugs in America are legal. Alcohol and tobacco are far more addictive and harmful than marijuana, but they are legally available. If we want to have drug policies that are logical and effective, we need to legalize and regulate marijuana in a manner similar to the regulation of alcohol and tobacco.

In order to truly understand the Injustices that have plagued Marijuana, we must start with a brief history. The marijuana (hemp) plant has a number of uses. The earliest

Known woven fabric was composed of hemp, and over the centuries the plant was used for food, incense, cloth, rope, and much more. However, much confusion is brought concerning its introduction into the United States, as the plant was well known from the early 1600's, but did not reach public awareness until the early 1900's. The first marijuana law in America was enacted at Jamestown Colony, Virginia in 1619. This Law ordered all Farmers to grow Indian hempseed. There were several other "must grow" laws over the next 200 years, and during most of that time, hemp was legal tender, and used commonly for paying taxes. Hemp was such a vital crop for a number of purposes...