History of Cannabis

Cannabis is one of the most omnipresent plants in the world and has been cultivated by mankind for thousands of years. Despite its near ubiquitous use throughout human history, it is considered a Schedule I controlled substance under the US Controlled Substances Act of 1970. In the last century, our society has regarded marijuana as a social menace and restricted its medicinal, scientific, and recreational use. However, organizations have fought for legislative and cultural reform over the last 50 years following the slowly growing scientific evidence to support the potential therapeutic and medicinal effects of cannabinoids. At the time of publication, 15 US states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for adults over the age of 21, and marijuana is legal for medical use in 36 US states. The end to cannabis prohibition may be in sight, but a long road still lies ahead.