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The Rastafarian movement in Jamaica also re-introduced the role of marijuana as an aid to spiritual growth. Marijuana has been and still is considered to be a spiritual drug in India, which also fueled hippie interest in the drug. The Beatles and other famous rock bands championed its use, and marijuana became mainstream even if still illegal.
The war on drugs that began in the early 20th century escalated. Presidents Nixon and especially Reagan demonized marijuana and during the 1980s penalties for pot possession, cultivation, and distribution became severe. American prisons have been long filled with non-violent drug offenders, and marijuana is the most widely used illict substance in the United States. Armentano (2008) claims that marijuana decriminalization is one of the most pressing and popular political issues, and voters are urging President-elect Obama to end marijuana prohibition.
Actors and other celebrities ranging from Willy Nelson to Woody Harrelson to Bill Maher have spoken out against marijuana prohibition in an attempt to decriminalize marijuana or at least offer an option for medical use. Several states now permit the medical use of marijuana including Alaska, California, Colorado,
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References
Abel, E.L. (1980). "Marijuana - the First Twelve Thousand Years." Schaeffer Library of Drug Policy. Retrieved Dec 15, 2008 at http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/history/first12000/abel.htm
Armentano, Pl. (2008). "President-Elect Obama, the People Have Spoken; Will You "Answer" Their Question?" NORML. Retrieved Dec 15, 2008 at http://norml.org/
Marijuana is America's Number One Cash Crop, Study Finds." (2006). Drug War Chronicle. Dec 22, 2006. Retrieved Dec 15, 2008 at http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/466/marijuana_is_americas_number_one_cash_crop_study_says
Stack, P. (2002). "Medical Marijuana: A History." Time. Oct 27, 2002. Retrieved Dec 15, 2008 at http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101021104/history.html
Stein, J. (2002). "The New Politics of Pot." Time. Oct 27, 2002. Retrieved Dec 15, 2008 at http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101021104/story.html
Whitebread, C. (1995). "The History of the Non-Medical Use of Drugs in the United States." Schaeffer Library of Drug Policy. Retrieved Dec 15, 2008 at http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/whiteb1.htm
Marijuana should be legalized. There is no sensible argument for the ongoing prohibition of marijuana. The prohibition of this plant robs governments of potential tax revenues, diverts spending to the prison industrial complex, leads to racially-biased incarceration rates, and violates America's principle of personal freedom. The counterarguments are rooted in fear, ignore evidence and impose the morality of one group of people on all. It is time to leave the
Since 1998, medical authorities including the editor of the New England Journal of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences have documented marijuana's unique ability to relieve both intractable pain and nausea." We're in the Money The prohibition of marijuana costs American taxpayers a fortune, in the tens of billions per year, much of which is channeled toward the cost of law enforcement and incarceration (Beatty, Holman & Schiraldi). Prominent economists
Studies suggest that 98% of users of marijuana and other illicit drugs also binge drink. I am prepared for the temptations that smoking marijuana might present as I go through college and will not be easily swayed by the lures of friendship and comaraderie that participating in such behavior might afford me. I can see the dangers and risks that it would expose me to and am not willing to
Civil Society Through "Legalize Marijuana" Organizations As microcosms of civil society, collective action groups operate with processes used by civil society but with uniquely tailored processes and results. The National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is one example of a collective action group that has used these processes to establish itself, grow, survive and currently flourish. Through intelligent framing, effective resource mobilization and wise use of political opportunity,
Medical Marijuana Use Drugs & Alcohol Marijuana is a plant or herb that grows on various parts of Earth. Other names for marijuana are hemp and cannabis, which refers to its biological name in Latin, cannibus sativa. Cannibus simply is the Latin word for marijuana, and sativa is the supine form a Latin verb meaning "sown" and "useful." The issue of marijuana use has been prominent in American culture since at
Medical Marijuana and Civil Liberties Research Project Part II Literature Review As the specter of Reagan's poorly planned and disastrously waged War on Drugs continues to haunt the American social landscape, an increasing number of ordinary citizens are indulging in an activity which has been demonized by prior generations and criminalized by the federal government. Casual ingestion of marijuana and other cannabis-based products has become legitimized in the eyes of many