Canada legalized cannabis in 2018, joining a growing list of nations that have decriminalized the plant. Since then, Canadians have enjoyed the recreational and medical properties of cannabis.
Yet how many cannabis consumers are aware of the dark history beneath the plant’s roots?
Early World History
Discovered in Central Asia or Western China, cannabis instantly became popular among citizens. The first documented use of the plant was in 2,800 BC by Emperor Shen Nung, known as the father of Chinese medicine.
Various ancient texts composed by Hindus, Assyrians, Greeks and Romans highlight the therapeutic properties of cannabis. The plant was used as a treatment for ailments such as arthritis, depression, amenorrhea, inflammation, lack of appetite and asthma.
Many Asian countries used hemp—a plant from the same species as cannabis—to make shoes and clothing. The famous plant continues to be cited throughout history, spanning cultures and traditions for thousands of years.
It is unclear how cannabis arrived in North America. Many scholars argue cannabis was already growing in the Americas before European colonization.
French colonizer Jacques Cartier reported seeing large expanses of wild cannabis growing on the land now known as Canada on each of his three journeys.
Indigenous peoples in North America used hemp leaves as bait on their fishing lines. Cannabis and hemp were used to make clothing and hunting equipment, in religious ceremonies, for recreational use and in general trade.
The American government actively encouraged citizens to grow cannabis in the 17th century, as people used the plant to construct much-needed items like rope, ship sails and clothing. In 1619, the Virginia Assembly even passed legislation requiring every farmer to grow hemp.
The third President of the U.S., Thomas Jefferson, forced enslaved people to cultivate hemp on his plantation in Virginia. “Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country,” he once said.
Historically, cannabis was seen as a great resource. You might be wondering when and why did cannabis become illegal in a North-American context? The answer lies within the American Civil War and is founded upon racism.
The beginning of the end
The domestic production of cannabis and hemp thrived until after the American Civil War. As the war ended, so did slavery. Without slavery, there was no labour for cannabis and hemp crops. Production drastically slowed in the coming years. Because of its connection to slavery, cannabis was a part of African-American culture and was associated with it long after abolition.
The association of African-Americans with Cannabis fueled existing racist sentiments.
Racist tactics flooded the North from the American borders, and a disproportionate number of cannabis seizures and arrests targeted racialized groups. Unfortunately, Canada was not immune and still is not immune to racially motivated incarceration.
The end of the Mexican Revolution in 1910 led to an increase of Mexican immigrants in the U.S. These immigrants—just like white people, smoked recreationally but called the plant “marihuana.”
From that point on, “marijuana” was used as a derogatory term to associate BIPOC with the smoking of cannabis.
Many anti-drug campaigners warned against a supposed “Marijuana Menace” and falsely reported terrible crimes attributed to cannabis use in racialized groups.
These factors contributed to the public sentiment that cannabis was a hazardous drug.
In Canada, cannabis was criminalized in 1923 without a recorded parliamentary debate. Historians cite a 1922 book, The Black Candle, by Emily Murphy as the trigger responsible for Mackenzie King’s government’s ban on cannabis.
Despite criminalization in 1923, there were no recorded police seizures of cannabis until 1932.
In the U.S., Harry J. Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, reported that cannabis use led to “insanity, criminality and death.” He falsely connected cannabis to 200 crimes in what is known as the “Gore Files.”
Propaganda films were disguised as entertainment to sway public opinion.
“Reefer Madness” was released in 1936 and caused mass hysteria over cannabis. The film depicts innocent high school students being pressured into smoking cannabis. The teenagers then experience various traumatizing events, including a hit-and-run accident, murder, suicide, sexual assault, unwanted hallucinations and mental deterioration towards insanity.
The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 regulated and taxed the plant. The law criminalized cannabis by outlawing possession, sale, and distribution. Cannabis was seen as highly taboo.
The anti-war movement in the 1960s and 70s led to the reuptake of cannabis amongst the white middle class who used cannabis to demonstrate their radical beliefs, leading to relaxed enforcement. The criminalization of cannabis didn’t matter when white people indulged, indicating the clear racist undertones of the legislation.
Richard Nixon’s administration ruined everyone’s high and introduced the infamous “war on drugs” in 1971. Under Nixon’s leadership, cannabis became a schedule 1 narcotic, listed as equal to heroin.
The policy proved to be rooted in racism when John Ehrlichman, Nixon’s aide, admitted the guidelines were created to connect drugs with anti-war leftists and Black people to disrupt their communities and provide an excuse for incarceration.
The racist sentiment was only furthered with Ronald Reagan’s presidency, which oversaw the signing of the Anti-drug Abuse Act of 1986. The bill allowed the judicial system to establish minimum sentences for drug offenders so those caught with cannabis multiple times would eventually be met with a life sentence.
Cannabis in the present
Uruguay was the first country to legalize cannabis in 2013, followed by Canada in 2018. Recreational use of cannabis is currently legal in 19 American states. There are varying laws regarding the legal status of cannabis throughout the world.
The social manipulation of cannabis has undoubtedly created misconceptions that still circulate today. The benefits of cannabis went undiscovered and repressed for many years due to racism.
In 2017, the Toronto Star found Black people with no criminal convictions were three times more likely to be arrested by Toronto police for possessing small amounts of cannabis than white people with similar backgrounds, despite there being little difference in cannabis use between Black and white people.
Cannabis has been proven to provide pain relief, improve sleep, reduce nausea and vomiting, and improve appetite and quality of life.
The plant can lower blood pressure, reduce joint and neuropathic inflammation and is often an effective treatment for people with mental health issues such as general anxiety disorder. Many of those who struggle with substance abuse and addiction can also use cannabis as a treatment to prevent relapse.
It would be irresponsible to ignore the potentially harmful effects of the plant. Repeated use increases the risk of lung infection and illness, and some users report experiencing feelings of paranoia and anxiety after consuming the plant. Cannabis use can also increase the risk of developing a mental illness or intensify existing symptoms.
Cannabis affects a person individually to prevent any adverse reactions; one should always consult with a medical professional before engaging in any cannabis use.
Despite the pros and cons of consuming this plant, cannabis should not be demonized, criminalized or used as a weapon against BIPOC. The history of cannabis is dark but deserves light. Consumers should be aware of these facts to truly appreciate the difficult and complicated journey of this little stinky green plant.
Featured image provided by unsplash/Crystalweed cannabis
