Marijuana History and Effects in America

Marijuana's History and Effects in America

James Yoshimoto

3/13/13

Marijuana which is the most widely used illicit drug in America is a psychoactive drug that users either ingest or smoke. This drug that has been accustomed into our society has become abused and abundant since its introduction in the 1930's. Marijuana has had a significant impact in the US which will be explained with its legal history, psychoactive effects, and economic costs.

The drug often called pot, weed or MJ known as Marijuana are the shredded leaves of the flower cannabis sativa. Marijuana was introduced into America during a period of drug intolerance around the 1920's with Mexican immigrants that came to the US for work (Musto, 1991). During the 1930's the Great Depression had hit America which amplified the violence and smoking of marijuana, pressuring the government to maintain control of the problems at hand. In response to increased marijuana use the federal government created the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 (Musto, 1991). This Tax act enabled the US government to control the transfer tax and sale of marijuana which was barely used in the 1930's but its use became widespread in the 1960's. In addition to the Marijuana Tax Act used to decrease marijuana smoking the federal government around the year 1937 also released exaggerated portrayals of the effects of marijuana. They portrayed marijuana use through magazines/papers, media and radio/TV that users of marijuana became more angry, violent, and suicidal. The image of marijuana began to change and increased in usage during the 1960-1970's where marijuana was a controversial drug on whether its use was good or bad. Marijuana was a legal under the Tax Act of 1937 but the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Act of 1970 was created which made Marijuana use illegal. Ever since the introduction of Marijuana in the US from 1920's the prevalent use of this drug has been increasing even till this day (Musto, 1991).

Marijuana is a psychoactive drug which has acute effects that can give users euphoric effects, relaxation, and time distortions (Hall & Solowij, 1998). This drug can also impair cognitive performances and intensification of the ordinary sensory experiences such as sound, visuals, and eating because of Marijuana's psychoactive ingredient 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Negative effects of this drug include anxiety and panic reactions because of receiving a stronger dose of THC than usual (Hall & Solowij, 1998). People who use marijuana usually smoke the substance either as a cigarette or through a glass pipe (bong). Smokers usually inhale the fumes of the Marijuana and hold it in to maximize the absorption of the THC effects within the lungs. When smoking marijuana the effects kick around 20-30 minutes and last up to 3 hours increasing