Marijuana can trace its history to the hallowed halls of ancient Greece and Rome. Cannabis was also written about by Chinese emperors and traded to Spaniards who used its fibers to build enormous fleets that conquered the world.

For nearly 4,000 years, cannabis was considered a valuable crop that sustained communities and built empires. It wasn’t until the 20th century that the government of the United States instituted legislation to curtail the use of the plant.

The Marijuana Tax Act

On October 1, 1937, the Marijuana Tax Act went into effect in the US. It was the first serious attempt by the federal government to curtail the personal consumption of marijuana, and more specifically, the production of hemp.

On the surface, the law was an extension of earlier efforts to label cannabis as a poison. These efforts began in 1906 with the passing of the Pure Food and Drug Act, which required manufacturers to accurately list and label the contents of their products.

Some states took these laws further. Legislators in Massachusetts, New York and Maine specifically targeted weed as a “habit-forming drug” that posed a danger to public health.

Cannabis Laws Move West

Viewed through a modern lens, it’s rather ironic that California was the first Western state to label weed as a poison under the Poison Act of 1907. Over the next eight years, several amendments to the law made it a misdemeanor to possess, sell, or use any quantity of marijuana.

Other states soon followed suit and modeled their own regulations after California. Cannabis became illegal in Wyoming, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Iowa, Nevada, and Washington.

Rolling Back the Long Arm of the Law

Following decades of increased regulations and punishments that were set forth by mandatory sentencing penalties in the Boggs Act, The Controlled Substances Act and many others, legislators within state governments finally began relaxing their stances on weed.

States including Oregon, Alaska and Maine decriminalized Marijuana in the 1970s. These states were followed by Colorado, California, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, and Nevada – in these states, penalties and fines were dramatically reduced. Combined, these efforts laid the foundation that made it possible for the passage of medical marijuana laws in the 1990s.

Legalized Marijuana

On November 6, 2012, Colorado voters chose to legalize the consumption of marijuana for recreational purposes. By May 2013, the state had outlined the rules and regulations for the production, possession and consumption of cannabis.

On January 1, 2014, the state’s first stores opened their dispensaries in Denver and elsewhere. Moreover, while cannabis still remains illegal under federal law, President Obama has instructed the Department of Justice to keep their hands off operations that are legal under state law.

LiveGreen

At LiveGreen, we want our customers to safely enjoy the health and recreational benefits cannabis offers. We invite you to visit our Lakewood dispensary to discover the many varieties and accessories we have available.