The English arrived with it in Jamestown in 1611, where it became a major commercial crop, which eventually was replaced by cotton. In 1619 the Virginia Assembly passed legislation requiring every farmer to grow hemp. Hemp was allowed to be exchanged as legal tender in Pennsylvania , Virginia , and Maryland . American production of hemp was encouraged by the government in the 17th century for the production of rope, sails, and clothing. Marijuana has been used since ancient times dated from 2737 B.C. It also has a long history of use as a medicinal herb
In the late nineteenth century, marijuana became a popular ingredient in many medicinal products and was sold openly in public pharmacies. Marijuana was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia from 1850 until 1942 and was prescribed for various conditions including labor pains, nausea, and rheumatism. Its use as an intoxicant was also common from the 1850s to the 1930s. A campaign conducted in the 1930s by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Narcotics (now the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs) sought to portray marijuana as a powerful, addicting substance that would lead users into narcotics addiction. It is still considered a "gateway" drug by some authorities.
The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified marijuana along with heroin, morphine and LSD as a Schedule I drug. A Schedule I substance is defined as having a high potential for abuse and no medicinal value. Multiple petitions for rescheduling marijuana have been submitted by reform advocates over the last 30 years. The most recent, submitted in 2002 by the Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis, calls for a full review of the scientific research and medical practice regarding marijuana. The FDA has not approved marijuana as a safe and effective drug for any indication. The agency has, however, approved one drug containing a synthetic version of a substance. Marinol, a Schedule III...