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It’s 1937. FDR has just been inaugurated into a second term, the Hindenburg Disaster erupts, the Golden Gate Bridge opens, we are about to enter into our second world war, and the Marijuana Tax Act is passed.

Under Harry Anslinger, a Federal Bureau of Narcotics commissioner, and a superpower when it came to anti-marijuana policies, the use of cannabis began to be heavily monitored, with restrictions on importation, cultivation, possession, and distribution. Importers were even required to pay an annual tax of 24 dollars upon every order and US Customs kept custody of imported marijuana until required documents were received and inspected.

By the 1950s, even the faintest whisper of THC was highly frowned upon and quickly quieted by overhearers. Derogatory terms like “devil weed” and “locoweed” came to fruition, and the dangers of the drug loomed over people’s heads like an old lover haunting a new relationship. Authority figures including police detectives would even attend elementary schools to give “warnings” about marijuana, calling it a “gateway drug” to more dangerous substances like heroin. Despite the overwhelming influx of disapproval, the very first pharmacological experiments involving CBD and THC began.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that research would solidify CBD as a potential therapeutic aid. As a result, the stigma around marijuana began to dissipate, and access to it became significantly easier. THC began showing up in gummies, oils, vapes, and even lotions, which helped with medical conditions like arthritis, and in some cases, even insomnia. By 2016, most US states had legalized medical marijuana and people began to be more open to the possibilities of medical and recreational use. 

As cannabis became increasingly decriminalized, social acceptance followed, and its usage has been on the rise. In a study conducted by Jonathan Caulkins, a cannabis policy researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, in 2022, an estimated 17.7 million people used marijuana daily or near-daily daily marijuana, compared to 14.7 million daily or near-daily drinkers. The federal government has even reclassified marijuana as a “less dangerous drug,” especially seeing its success in the medical field.

As of 2024, 24 states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, while 38 have legalized it for medical use. Social acceptability is now at an all-time high. According to a survey by PEW Research Center, 88 percent of US adults would like to see marijuana be legal for both medical and recreational use. People are also more open about using the drug, where 50 percent of all participants in a Forbes Health survey would disclose using CBD to their family members and 58 percent to their friends.