Language Matters
Editors' note: "Cannabis" and "marijuana" are used interchangeably in this guide. Although “cannabis” is the preferred term, “marijuana” was intentionally kept to promote content for public use with no negative connotations. We acknowledge the controversial history and etymology of "marijuana," including implicit racism affecting cannabis research to date.
- Language Matters: Cannabis Resources from Rutgers LibrariesA blog post discussing discourse on the topic to avoid, albeit often unintentionally, talking in a stigmatizing manner.
Marijuana Legalization
State-by-State Marijuana Policies
Click on the map to see basic information about cannabis policies in each state.
Addiction Studies Librarian
Liaison to the Center of Alcohol Studies
Background Information
- Medline Plus: MarijuanaInformation compiled by the National Library of Medicine about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in plain language. From the National Institutes of Health's Web site for patients and their families and friends.
- Marijuana Research ReportRevised in July 2020, this comprehensive resource from the National Institute on Drug Abuse covers the basics in a Q&A format, including a bibliography of 113 references. Also downloadable as 42-page pdf.
- Marijuana FAQ from CDCAswers to some of the commonly asked questions about marijuana provided by CDC.
- Legalizing the supply of cannabisA chapter from "Drug Policy and the Public Good" focusing on the mechanics of legalization, in consideration of public health and the public interest. [RU-restricted]
- Cannabis Policy: Moving Beyond StalemateAn essential book for those interested in drugs and drug policy, and an excellent supplementary text for university courses in criminology, policy, science, social science, or public health. [RU-restricted]
- Cannabis, Coca, & Poppy: Nature’s Addictive PlantsOverview of the plant and its current use from the Museum of Drug Enforcement History, with images.
- Current Laws by StateCurrent laws and penalties by states, including possession, distribution, cultivation, and more, all in one place compiled by NORML.
- MarijuanaEntry in the SAGE Encyclopedia of Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, & Recovery (RU-restricted).
- CQ ResearcherWeekly reports from Congressional Quarterly Inc., a Washington-based reporting service (RU-restricted).
Brief Overview of Marijuana History
Marijuana has been used medicinally for centuries. In the late 19th and early 20th century, it was classified as a sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant agent in the English speaking world, as indicated in the British Pharmacopoeia and the US Pharmacopeia, until 1932 and 1941, respectively.
In 1937, Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act, effectively criminalizing marijuana. In 1944, the New York Academy of Medicine issued an extensive report declaring marijuana did not induce violence, or insanity, or lead to addiction or other drug use (La Guardia Committee).
In the 1940s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched its "Hemp for Victory" program, encouraging farmers to plant hemp by giving out seeds and granting draft deferments to those who would stay home and grow hemp.
After the strict mandatory sentences for drug-related offenses (Boggs Act, 1952; Narcotics Control Act, 1956), the 1960s witnessed a more permissive approach towards marijuana.
In 1972, the bipartisan Shafer Commission, appointed by President Nixon at the direction of Congress, considered laws regarding marijuana and determined that personal use of marijuana should be decriminalized. Nixon rejected the recommendation.
In 1973 it was listed under Section 1 of the US Controlled Substances Act, rendering it one of the substances subject to the US ‘War on Drugs,’ which included the prohibition of use for medicinal purposes, as part of a global movement towards control.
In 1986 and 1989, presidents Reagan and Bush launched a new war: Reagan raising penalties for possession and dealing, and Bush explicitly declaring a War on Drugs.
In 1996 medical marijuana law reform began in California, and by 2007, state licensing and distribution for medical use.
The first states to legalize recreational use were Washington (2012) and Colorado (2014), creating a new industry: cannabis tourism.
In 2020, New Jersey voters chose to legalize recreational use.
SOURCES:
- Marijuana Timeline from PBS History
- Timeline of more recent developments from Motley Fool
- Pacula, S., & Smart, R. (2017). Medical Marijuana and Marijuana Legalization. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 13(1), 397–419.
Suggested Books on Marijuana History
Marijuana by ISBN: 0815738315Publication Date: 2020-06-30Provides a brief yet compelling narrative that discusses the social and cultural history of marijuana but also tells us how a once-vilified plant has been transformed into a serious, even mainstream, public policy issue. Focusing on politics, the media, government, racism, criminal justice, and education, the book describes why public policy has changed, and what that change might mean for marijuana's future place in society.
Marijuana Politics by ISBN: 9781440837067Publication Date: 2018-01-18Documents the long history of marijuana use, the turbulent path of the prohibition of cannabis use, the issues regarding present-day legalization, and the modern implications of both medical and recreational cannabis. It provides compelling insight from multiple academic disciplines, including sociology, political science, economics, medicine, and health, and in particular from the history of the American experience with the criminalization of liquor, gambling, prostitution, and cigarettes.
Cannabis by ISBN: 1498761631Publication Date: 2016-11-17A comprehensive reference summarizing botanical, business, chemical, ecological, genetic, historical, horticultural, legal, and medical considerations that are critical for the wise advancement and management of cannabis in its various forms. This book documents both the risks and benefits of what is indisputably one of the world's most important species.
Cannabis by ISBN: 0312322208Publication Date: 2004-06-01In this comprehensive study, Martin Booth crafts a tale of medical advance and religious enlightenment; of political subterfuge and law enforcement; of cunning smugglers, street pushers, gang warfare, writers, artists, and musicians. And above all, Booth chronicles the fascinating process through which cannabis became outlawed throughout the Western world, and the effect such legislation has had on the global economy.
Cannabis by ISBN: 0520270487Publication Date: 2013-09-01A comprehensive, interdisciplinary exploration of the natural origins and early evolution of this famous plant, highlighting its historic role in the development of human societies. [...] As interest in cannabis grows and public debate over its many uses rises, this book will help us understand why humanity continues to rely on this plant and adapts it to suit our needs.
Glossary | Etymology | Definitions
The terms Marijuana and Cannabis are used interchangeably, with their own etymology going back to centuries, gaining grounds in public discourse for science, business, and pop culture.
Marijuana: a preparation of Cannabis sativa for use as an intoxicant, generally by smoking, 1918, altered by influence of Spanish proper name Maria Juana "Mary Jane" from mariguan (1894), from Mexican Spanish marihuana, which is of uncertain origin. More...
Cannabis: "common hemp," from Cannabis, Modern Latin plant genus named (1728), from Greek kannabis "hemp," a Scythian or Thracian word. In reference to use of the plant parts as an intoxicant, from 1848. More...
RELATED TERMS
Cannabidiol (CBD): a constituent of cannabis that has been traditionally considered non-psychoactive.
Cannabinoids: one of a class of chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors, cannabinoids can be naturally derived from the cannabis plant or manufactured.
Hemp: Cannabis plants with very low levels of THC (not more than 0.3 percent), also know as “industrial hemp”
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis.
SEE ALSO: Glossary in The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research.
Click on the image to see synonyms of marijuana.