Contributions Of Marijuana Essay, Research Paper
Throughout history marijuana has been used to serve various purposes in many
different cultures. The purposes have changed over time to fit in with the current
lifestyles. This pattern is also true in American history. The use of marijuana has
adapted to the social climate of the time.
Marijuana, whose scientific name is cannabis sativa, was mentioned in historical
manuscripts as early as 2700 B. C. in China. (Grolier ,1995). The cultivation of the
marijuana plant began as far back as the Jamestown settlers, around 1611, who used hemp
produced from the marijuana plant’s fibers to make rope and canvas. It was also used in
making clothing because of it’s durability.
These uses fit in with the social climate of the time, because the main focus was on
survival rather than for psychoactive purposes. During the prohibition, marijuana was
widely used because of the scarcity of alcohol. Prohibition was repealed after just thirteen
years while the prohibition against marijuana lasted for more than seventy five years. This
double standard may have resulted from the wishes of those in power. Alcohol prohibition
struck directly at tens of millions of Americans of all ages, including many of societies
most powerful members. Marijuana prohibition threatened far fewer Americans, and they
had relatively little influence in the districts of power.
Only the prohibition of marijuana, which some sixty million Americans have
violated since 1965 has come close to approximating the prohibition experience,
Nadelmann wrote marijuana smokers consist mostly of young and relatively powerless
Americans (Nadelmann , 47). Alcohol prohibition was repealed and marijuana prohibition
was retained, not because scientists had proved that alcohol was the less dangerous of the
various psychoactive drugs, but because of the prejudices and preferences of most
Americans (Nadelmann, 47). In 1937 the government issued the Marijuana Tax Act,
which levied a dollar an ounce tax on marijuana, coupled with fines of $2,000 for drug
possession and jail sentences for evasion of the tax. For this reason marijuana use in the
United States appears to have gone into decline in the late 30’s (Grolier, 54). Then
marijuana was outlawed in 1937 as a repressive measure against Mexican workers who
crossed the border seeking jobs during the Depression. The specific reason given for the
outlawing of the hemp plant was it’s supposed violent “effect on the degenerate races”
(Nadelmann, 86).
Beginning in the 60’s marijuana use saw a resurgence which may be attributed to
many causes. One of the main causes was the rebellion of youth against the Vietnam
War. They used marijuana as an escape from war to peace. It was easy at this time
to depict marijuana as a beneficial and completely harmless substance whose effects were
far less harmful than those of legal drugs such as alcohol and nicotine because there was
not enough scientific research done during the 60’s (Grolier, 54).
Another cause may have been the discovery of the psychoactive component of
marijuana- tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC. Users found the relation
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between the doses and the effects (Grolier, 1995). The current atmosphere provides for
doctors to suggest synthetic marijuana (THC) in a pure and standardized form by
prescription (called Marinol) for the treatment of nausea associated with cancer
chemotherapy. Also, although there is no scientific evidence that shows marijuana is
beneficial in the treatment of glaucoma, it may prevent the progression of visual loss.
Marijuana, along with alcohol and a host of other substances, can actually lower
intraocular eye pressure. The medication however, must be carefully tailored to the
individual to prevent further eye damage. The evidence has clearly shown that marijuana
has been around for a great deal of time and has served multiple purposes throughout
history.
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