From a 19th century use in medicines to an association with the counterculture and juvenile delinquency to its restoration as a legitimate medicine in many states, the history of marijuana in the United States has been a long and winding one. The cannabis plant that produces marijuana also produces hemp, an early important crop grown by the colonists, but by the 20th century it was considered a dangerous drug. Its rehabilitation for medical use means it is now used to treat a variety of conditions.
Early Use
Paper, rope and cloth are among the products that hemp was used for in the early days of the colonies, before the United States existed as a country. In several states, it was even used as currency. However, hemp’s popularity flagged as it was replaced by cotton and imports in the 19th century although marijuana began to be used in hundreds of medicines, just as it had been throughout the world since ancient times. It declined as well as aspirin and other drugs were developed and it became more common to deliver them using syringes instead of tinctures.
Criminalization and the Counter Culture
Where Prohibition, the move to make alcohol illegal, failed over the long run, making marijuana illegal succeeded. Throughout the 1930s, more and more states passed laws against it, and eventually, commercial hemp fields came to an end as well. However, at the same time, the drug was enjoying a rise among the counterculture, including in the jazz community. The 1936 film Reefer Madness was intended as a cautionary tale and made outrageous claims about the potential harm of the drug. Despite this, it continued to be popular in the counter culture, first with the beatniks of the 1950s and later with the hippies of the 1960s. For decades, supporters argued against its prohibition and its characterization as a harmful substance, pointing out its many medical benefits.
The Return of Medical Marijuana
Over the years, recreational use of the drug became less stigmatized in many areas even though it remained illegal, in part as the baby boomers who had popularized its use in the 1960s and 1970s grew up and settled down but didn’t give it up. In the 1990s, support for medical marijuana grew significantly, and it was eventually legalized in more than 30 states, including Ohio. A few additional states allow its recreational use. Many people use marijuana to deal with chronic pain, but it is also useful in conditions as varied as Crohn’s disease, Alzheimer’s and post-traumatic stress disorder. It can help cancer patients who lose their appetites or experience nausea as a result of chemotherapy, allowing them to eat. State laws for prescribing it differ. In Ohio, getting a prescription for medical marijuana involves seeing a doctor, but telemedicine has made it possible to get your medical marijuana card online. You can connect with a doctor on your laptop or mobile device who can confirm that you have one of the medical conditions that qualifies you for a card and that you meet the other conditions as well.
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