Marijuana History Milestones
[TABLE="width: 616"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 293, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]
BC[/TD]
[TD="width: 293, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
7000 to 8000[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]Dried hemp woven into fabric[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
6000[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]Hemp seeds used as food by the Chinese[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
2727[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]Cannabis used as a medication in China[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1200[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]Marijuana used as medication in India[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
800[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]Cannabis becomes the ‘sacred grass' of the hindus[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
700 to 300[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]Marijuana becomes high status plant in Scythia An ancient region of Eurasia extending from the mouth of the Danube River on the Black Sea)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
500[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]Marijuana plant was introduced into Europe[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
AD[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
500-600[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]Cannabis is mentioned in the Jewish sacred text, the Talmud[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
900 to 1000[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]Cannabis becomes popular as a ‘recreational drug' in the Arab world, where alcohol was prohibited[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1492[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]Columbus did not just ‘sail the ocean blue' he also introduced the cannabis Sativa plant to America[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1619[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]In Jamestown, Virginia, marijuana becomes a compulsory crop and is used as a trading crop between US and Central and South Asia[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1797[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]George Washington grows marijuana[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1798[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]Napoleon bans the use of marijuana after noting the amount of marijuana smoked by the Egyptians[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1840[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]Cannabis based medicines available in America and hashish medications sold in Persia (Iran)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1876[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]Marijuana gifted to the Americans by the Sultan of Turkey resulting in an sudden increase in Turkish smoking parlors across North East US[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"][/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1906[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]The FDA was formed, giving the government an insight into drug use within the country[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1908[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]Henry Ford uses hemp plastic to make the first Model T. He fuels it with ethanol made from hemp.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1913[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]Anti-marijuana law passed in California, banning the use of "preparations of hemp, or loco weed[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1915[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]Anti-marijuana law passed in Utah[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1919[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]Anti-marijuana law passed in Texas[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1924[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]Anti-marijuana law passed in Louisiana[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1927[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]Anti-marijuana law passed in New York[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1928[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]Recreational use of marijuana outlawed in the UK[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1930[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]Harry J Anslinger becomes first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, declaring war on drugs[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1930[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080, colspan: 2"]First use of the word ‘Muggles' – not non-wizards as per J K Rowling but bales of marijuana[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1936[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0, colspan: 2"]
Reefer Madness propaganda film released stating that marijuana causes madness.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="width: 616"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1937[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080"]Marijuana tax introduced into the US – pay a dollar and you could legally grow and sell marijuana. Proof of paying the tax was a stamp; however, the Treasury did not issue any stamps.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1937[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]First marijuana conviction; Samuel R Caldwell was convicted of selling the marijuana when not in possession of the tax stamp.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1944[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080"]New York Mayor, Fiorello La Guardia, called for abolition of the tax stamp.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1950[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Harry J Anslinger claims that marijuana is a gateway drug to heroin.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1951[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080"]Passing of the Boggs Act results in ruthless sentences for drug offenses because drugs were, apparently, a tool of Communist China.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1956[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Narcotic Control Act classifies marijuana as dangerous as heroin and penalties increase even further[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1961[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080"]Anslinger went to the United Nations and was successful in convincing more than 100 other countries to consolidate their drug laws with those of America, thereby creating a single convention. Thus marijuana became globally illegal[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1972[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]It is estimated that 24 million Americans had used marijuana[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1972[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080"]Don Crowe – Vietnam War veteran was sentenced to 50 years for selling 1 ounce marijuana. His customer was an undercover police officer and this was Crowe's first offense.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1972[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
The National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse released a report that showed marijuana use did not lead to crime. The researchers also reported that police were selective in the people they targeted, going for people with a certain ‘look.' President Nixon, who had commissioned report, decided to ignore the findings (he reportedly never read the report) and continued with his anti-marijuana crusade.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1972[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080"]The Drug Enforcement Agency is created, pulling all the American drug resources into one agency. The DEA had the authority to enter homes without knocking.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1980s[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]President Reagan is in power and there is a reported one arrest every 38 seconds for the violation of marijuana laws[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1980s[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080"]Judge Francis law recommends the reclassification of marijuana as a prescription drug. No action was taken.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1998[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Medical Marijuana becomes legal in
Washington[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
19961999
[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080"]
California passes Proposition 215, allowing the use of medical marijuanaUse of medical marijuana becomes legal in
Alaska
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
1999[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Use of medical marijuana legalized in
Maine[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
1999[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080"]Medical marijuana becomes legal in
Oregon[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2000[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
Hawaii legalizes medical marijuana[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
2001[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080"]Medical Marijuana becomes legal in
Nevada[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2003[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Medical marijuana becomes legal in Canada[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 62, bgcolor: #808080"]
2003[/TD]
[TD="width: 524, bgcolor: #808080"]
Maryland approves the use of medical marijuana. This law requires the court to consider a defendant's use of medical marijuana to be a mitigating factor in marijuana-related state prosecution. If the patient, post-arrest, successfully makes the case at trial that his or her use of marijuana is one of medical necessity, then the maximum penalty allowed by law would be a $100 fine.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="width: 616"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2003[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
Study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine concludes there are "no major short-term harmful effects, and possibly some beneficial effects" from using marijuana medically in HIV-infected patients taking protease inhibitors[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"][/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2003[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]In the Netherlands pharmacies become legally obligated to stock and dispense medical marijuana. They are also required to advise users of the benefits of cannabis tea.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2003[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]US Government patent the therapeutic use of
cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2003[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]California:
S.B. 420 signed into law, which will create an ID card for medical marijuana users to show law enforcement officers.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2003[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]US Supreme Court refuses to hear an appeal in the case of
Conant v. Walters, thus turning down "
the Bush administration's request to consider whether the federal government can punish doctors for recommending or perhaps even talking about the benefits of the drug [medical marijuana] to sick patients."[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2003[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Of the Deans who responded to a confidential poll, over 60% believed that '
physicians should have the legal right to recommend or prescribe marijuana to receive symptoms of medical complaints.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2003[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]In the case of
Ashcroft v Raich, the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2:1 that people who use marijuana for medical purposes cannot be prosecuted by the federal government so long as they grow their own or obtain it from other growers without charge.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2004[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Marijuana reclassified in the UK from a Class B drug to a Class C. Penalty for cannabis possession reduced from 5 year maximum prison sentence to 2 year maximum sentence.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2004[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]
Vermont becomes the 10[SUP]th[/SUP] state to decriminalize medical marijuana.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2004[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Limited use of medical marijuana becomes legal in
Montana.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2005[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]In the case of
Gonzales v. Raich (previously Ashcroft v. Raich), the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution allowed the federal government to ban the use of cannabis, including medical use. The court found the federal law valid, although the cannabis in question had been grown and consumed within a single state, and had never entered interstate commerce.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2005[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]The Supreme Court rules that, "Federal authorities may prosecute sick people who smoke pot on doctors' orders," concluding that state medical marijuana laws don't protect users from a federal ban on the drug. One week later, the House voted down an amendment that would have stopped the Justice Department from bringing such case.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="width: 616"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2006[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]
Rhode Island legalizes medical marijuana.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2006[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]A large research study undertaken at UCLA finds that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does not lead to lung cancer.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2007[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]Medical marijuana becomes legal in
New Mexico.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2007[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Rhode Island medical marijuana act amended.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2008[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]In
Michigan an act is passed that removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who have been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2009[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Cannabis reclassified to Class B in the UK[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2010[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]
New Jersey approves medical marijuana bill: New Jersey Compassionate Medical Marijuana Act was passed by the state Assembly in a 48-14 vote[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2010[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]A board of
Iowa pharmacists voted for the reclassification of cannabis to a schedule 2 drug – that is they recognize the
benefits of medical marijuana and support its legalization within the state.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2010[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]Study commissioned in
Tennessee to help legislature decide whether and how to implement a system of patient registration and medical marijuana distribution.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2010[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
Kansas 2010 Medical Marijuana Act introduced to the House by Rep Gail Finney[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2010[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]Arkansas supporters of medical cannabis release draft three of their
Medicinal Cannabis Act of 2011[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2010[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]Use of medical marijuana in
Arizona to appear on November ballot paper.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2010[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]Use of medical marijuana in
Massachusetts to appear on November ballot paper.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
2010[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #c0c0c0"]
Peter Buckley announces plans to i
ntroduce the Oregon Cannabis Revenue Act(OCRA) to the state legislature.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 51, bgcolor: #808080"]
2010[/TD]
[TD="width: 535, bgcolor: #808080"]
South Dakota to ballot for medical marijuana in November.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]