Marijuana policy reform has been a long time coming. The United States’ deep-rooted history with cannabis began in 1492 when Christopher Columbus brought the first pot plants to North America. U.S. farmers grew hemp since the early colonial era; even Thomas Jefferson and George Washington had hemp farms. But prior to the Great Depression, marijuana as a drug wasn’t even on America’s radar. Recreational use was popular in parts of Latin America, including Mexico, but it wasn’t widely consumed in the United States until the early 20th century. Its use by Mexican immigrants quickly convinced the general public it was a dangerous, degenerate drug, and states began banning it in an effort to arrest and remove immigrants. For more than 60 years it was a downhill battle. But, as of 2020, federal legalization and reform are on the rise.
1937: Federal Bureau of Narcotics bans cannabis
In the 1930s, a man named Harry J. Anslinger went on a tear. Anslinger served as head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, the predecessor to the DEA, from 1930-1962, the longest reign of any federal anti-drug chief. Within less than seven years of taking office, he managed to convince Congress to completely ban cultivation, sale, and possession of cannabis. The Marihuana Tax Stamp Act of 1937 criminalized a large segment of the population in one fell swoop.
The Tax Stamp Act required anyone who hoped to sell cannabis to pay a tax and get a license. However, the law was designed so it was practically impossible to do so (with the exception of during World War II, when the feds actually encouraged hemp production). Selling pot without a license was treated as tax evasion and could draw a substantial prison sentence.
States banned marijuana under their own laws in a process that started well before 1937; Massachusetts was the first to do so, in 1911. By the time Ansinger’s law took effect, the drug was illegal everywhere in America under both federal and state statutes.
1940s: The government encourages farmers to grow hemp
Things changed during the early 1940s, when the feds actually encouraged farmers to grow hemp for the war effort. For years afterward, the government denied any of it ever happened, until some pro-reform celebrities discovered a long-lost videotape that proved otherwise.
In 1969, Americans almost got a taste of real legal reform. The Supreme Court tossed out the Tax Stamp Act, saying it violated the constitution by forcing people to incriminate themselves when asking for a tax stamp.
1970: The Controlled Substances Act is introduced
That changed in 1969, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a high-profile drug conviction, ruling that the Tax Stamp Act was unconstitutional. The fun didn’t last, however: The next year Congress and President Richard Nixon enacted the Controlled Substances Act, a harsh statute that declared marijuana to be among the most dangerous substances in the world.
The Act organized various legally controlled substances into “schedules” according to how dangerous, addictive, and medically useless Congress considers them to be. Marijuana has always been in schedule 1, the most highly restricted category, along with ecstasy and heroin. And that’s where things stood for nearly 30 years.
1996: California launches first Medical Marijuana Program
As public support for legalization began its slow climb out of the basement, California voters passed the first medical marijuana law in the world. Several other states followed suit within the next few years. Unfortunately, the federal government didn’t get the memo: The DEA and federal prosecutors continued to arrest and incarcerate innocent low-level marijuana patients and providers. The anti-weed campaign even picked up speed as support for legal pot crossed the 50 percent threshold.
2000: More states follow California’s lead
Between 1996-2000 Alaska, the District of Columbia, Maine, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Nevada legalize medical marijuana through various acts, bills, and initiatives supported by each state’s voters. In the next decade, Montana, Vermont, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Michigan, New Jersey, and Arizona follows suit.
2009: The Obama administration issues memo
The Obama administration issues a formal message to federal prosecutors, encouraging them to refrain from prosecuting those who distribute medical marijuana in compliance with their state’s laws.
2012: The first U.S. states legalize recreational marijuana use
In November 2012, Colorado joined Washington to become one of the first two states to legalize marijuana for recreational adult-use. Amendment 64, the legalization initiative, passed by a wide margin: 55 percent to 45 percent. The new law allows the purchase and possession of up to 1 ounce of cannabis per person, while residents may grow up to four plants at home. Amendment 64 also imposes regulations and a sales tax on the legal marijuana industry.
2014: Uruguay legalizes recreational use nationwide
Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize cannabis use nationwide after President Jose Mujica signed legislation allowing adult use of the drug. The law allows adults 18 and older to grow, possess and consume cannabis and made cannabis obtainable through a state-controlled marijuana dispensary system.
2018: Canada legalizes recreational use nationwide
Canada became the second country in the world to legalize recreational cannabis use nationwide in October 2018.
2019: The SAFE Act passes in the House, stalls in the Senate
The U.S. House of Representatives passes the Secure and Fair Enforcement Act, which would protect financial institutions that offer banking services to cannabis-related companies in the states that have legalized marijuana. The bill stalls in the U.S. Senate.
2020: The House passes the MORE Act
In December 2020, Congress voted 228-164 to pass the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act. The act is powerful, offering retroactive amendments to the Control Substances Act that apply to past convictions and offenses.
The Future of Marijuana
The biggest victories in marijuana history are yet to come. Momentum for marijuana reform is an unstoppable force. Public support continues to rise, more public officials are openly advocating for policy reform, and the availability of legal and safe cannabis is becoming widespread. Legal marijuana is here to stay!