When examining the marijuana industry and how it functions in todays society, one must first review the history of the industry and how it came to be, and for what purposes that marijuana was cultivated and used.
There has been much debate over exactly when and where cannabis (marijuana) was first located, and the purposes for it's use. The records of marijuana was initially documented around 7000-8000 BC, in which the marijuana / hemp plant was grown and cultivated for the purposes of making fabrics.(1) This was not the only use for the hemp plant, for in 6000BC, China were using the seeds as part of their diet, and were later noted for using the seeds in medicine.(2) Since this inception, cannabis has been used for an assortment of reasons including social and religious rites.
In 5000BC, Europe was introduced to marijuana by the scythians, in which cannabis use had spread right throught the continent. (3) Marijuana had literally become a phenomenom, as it was used for making housing, medicine, clothing and many other items needed for survival. The smoking of marijuana had not arisen until the 1200's when the muslims began smoking cannabis due to the fact that they were prohibited to drink according to their religious doctrine.(4)
CANNABIS AND THE WESTERN WORLD
When it came to the western worlds, the United States was the first country to have documented the introduction of marijuana to their shores. It is thought that Christopher Columbus had first brought cannabis to the United States, with laws later being enacted to grow and cultivate crops for trade purposes.(5) This trade had become so profitable that in 1816, areas such as Virginia, Plymouth and numerous other cities created further laws to promote the cultivation of marijuana, to ensure that the supply was enough to meet trade needs. Initially this promotion was such that even George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were known for growing marijuana plants in 1797 (6)
By 1840, most medicines sold in pharmacies were cannabis based, while in Peru they were hashish based.(7) The regulation of marijuana had only begun once the Drug and Food Administration was formed in 1906 (7) This would be one of the most significant moments in the history of the marijuana industry, for not only did it regulate substances that went into medical products, but it would eventually lead to marijuana being out lawed altogether.
As the the marijuana industry expanded and the phenomenon exploded into western civilisation, many states began to recognise that the use of such products as a leisurely pasttime had led to the delinquency of users. In 1913, California was the first state to regulate against marijuana use, initiating many other states to do the same.(9) The American government had commenced a fierce campaign to deter young people from using such substances, with major advertising campaigns infilterating communities. The "Reefer Madness" syndrome arose and was in full swing, and it's aim was to scare people away from using marijuana. But this was only drowned out when the hippie movement arose in the 1960's. Instead of responding to the government's campaign of fear, many were responding to the hippie movement's message of peace, love and sexual freedom. By 1969, the Controlled Substances Act had been established, ensuring that anyone found using or being in possession of cannabis would be seriously penalised. This however, did not stop the phenomenon from spreading.
Both Britain and and the penal colony know as Australia, were now also being touched by this phenomenon. Britain reacted instantly, and promptly established laws to counteract the phenomenon.
Of course Australia had a different reaction for they already knew of this plant called marijuana, as it grew so freely in Queensland. One could argue that being a nation made up of primarily convicts, that such a reaction was quite normal. Once the Australian government had consulted with the American authorities, the Australian authorites had then commenced in out lawing marijuana. The American mindset of reefer madness had now begun to intrude into the psychie of Australians, as many newspapers began to print their own more subtler version of fear through propaganda.
Once marijuana had been legislated against, this would normally lead many to think that the industry would die, however, it seemed to have a reverse affect in which a boom trade arose for the industry. One only has to take a look at history, when in the 1920's a prohibition on alcohol had taken place. There were more people drinking in illegal bars and making illegal purchases, than when it was legalised. This would indicate that whether marijuana is legal or illegal, the industry will always thrive in trade. Stiffer penalties have been applied by police and the courts, and yet the demand for "Weed" is overwhelmingly high. The government /s can no more legislate on a person's choices to smoke cannabis than they can legislate over smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or gambling.
As the marijuana industry continues to grow, and the phenomenon rages, the cost to individuals, families, hospitals, police and society as a whole, will continue to tear away at the very fabric of our existence and how to live a good life with all it's potentials.
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