At the dawn of the 20th Century, there was a significant shift in the perception and regulation of cannabis in the United States. Initially, the Pure Food and Drug Act signaled growing concerns about the plant's safety. Between 1914 and 1925, 26 states passed laws to outlaw cannabis.
By the 1930s, the public's attitude towards cannabis had largely turned negative, echoing similar sentiments in Britain and Europe.
The Great Depression, with its economic despair and massive job losses, further exacerbated the negative outlook towards cannabis, transforming its image from a promising medicinal asset to a perceived societal threat (Boire & Feeney, 2006).
This changing perspective culminated in the enactment of the Uniform State Narcotic Act in 1932, which empowered states to regulate the sale and use of narcotics, including cannabis. One of the key advocates of this act was Harry Anslinger, the Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.
Please visit our sources:
Boire, R. G., & Feeney, K. (2006). Medical Marijuana Law. Ronin Publishing.
Bonnie, R. J., & Whitebread, C. H. (1974).
Buying here supports the site: Medical Marijuana Law
The Forbidden Fruit and the Tree of Knowledge: An Inquiry into the Legal History of American Marijuana Prohibition. Virginia Law Review, 60(6), 971-1203. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/forbidden-fruit-and-tree-knowledge-inquiry-legal-history-american
Eddy, M. (2010). Medical Marijuana: Review and Analysis of Federal and State Policies. Congressional Research Service. https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/RL33211.pdf
