MARIJUANA DRUG ABUSE AND SOCIETY

THE HISTORY OF MARIJUANA DRUG ABUSE

Dating all the way back to 6000 B.C., cannabis seeds were consumed by the people of China as a part of their diet. Around the same time, hemp was used for fabrics to make clothes and other necessities by the people of China. As centuries went by, marijuana first entered the United States around late 1700's to early 1800's. Similar to the people of China, Americans also used marijuana and hemp for fabrics, and also recreational use. It was very common for people to grow marijuana as if they were growing tobacco. As the 1930's approached, many jazz musicians would bring marijuana from southern states, like Louisiana, to the northern states to have "reefer parties" in jazz clubs, in New York area. As marijuana became more popular, government officials set up programs to stop the use of marijuana in the US. Harry J. Anslinger was the head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, in 1930 and was in position for almost thirty years, up until 1962. During Anslinger’s period as head of FBN, he introduced programs and advertisements that informed Americans of the negative effects of marijuana. One in particular was the idea of marijuana making people temporarily insane and it was “the gateway drug” which enables young people to try other drugs like heroine. It was not until around the 70’s where college students and average middle class citizens began smoking marijuana.