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Jamestown Colony law required all settlers to grow hemp
Among these settlers was George Washington, who grew hemp as one of his three primary crops. -
Mexican soldiers reported to use hemp cigarettes
It became well known since the 1870s that marijuana was largely used by Mexican populations in Mexico and in the United States. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
This law required that certain drugs that contained cocaine, alcohol, morphine, heroin, and cannabis to properly label the substances and dosages. -
California's Poison Act
California was the first state to list cannabis as a "poison," thereby making possession of hemp or other cannabis tinctures or extracts a misdemeanor. Other states including Wyoming, Texas, Ioawa, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arkansas, and Nebraska followed suit. -
Federal Bureau of Narcotics established
Headed by Harry Anslinger, the FBN lobbied for harsher drug penalties. Anslinger also began a campaign to propagandize his idea that marijuana causes insanity. -
Convention for the Suppression of the Illicit Traffic in Dangerous Drugs
During the conventions, which concluded in Geneva, the US, under Henry Anslinger's lead, tried to criminalize all activities (cultivation, manufacture, production, distribution) related to cannabis, coca, and opium, except for scientific or medical use. -
Marihuana Tax Act of 1937
Drafted by Harry Anslinger, this act made the possession and transfer of cannabis federally illegal throughout the US. Criminalization of cannabis, however, excluded medical and industrial uses, which instead required an expensive excise tax. -
Henry Ford makes a car fueled by hemp
Henry Ford constructed a car that used hemp as its bio-fuel off of which to run. -
Richard Nixon declares a War on Drugs
Nixon declared drug abuse to be "public enemey number one" -
National Commission on Marijuana recommends decriminalization
The first and only Congressional Commission assessed that "criminal law is too harsh a tool to apply to personal possession even in the effort to discourage use" -
Nixon establishes the DEA
Nixon established the Drug Enforcement Agency to strengthen the government's position in the Drug War and better enforce drug laws through a single administration that may coordinate the efforts of other agencies. -
California Senate Bill 95
SB 95 made possession for less than an ounce of marijuana for non-medical use punishable by a $100 fine. If the offender is under 21, his/her license may also be suspended. -
Alaska's Ravin v. State Ruling
Legalized the possession of up to 4 ounces of marijuana for in-home personal use. -
Comprehensive Crime Control Act
Broadened criminal and civil asset forfeiture laws, while also increasing Federal criminal sanctions for drug offenses -
1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act
Delegated money to drug abuse prevention and treatment, but also mandatory prison sentences for large-scale distribution of marijuana, and imposed other sanctions, as well -
Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1986
Signed by President Reagan, and aimed for a "drug-free" America, the act included mandatory minimum sentences for drug cases, including marijuana, as well as appropriated $1.7 million to fighting the drug war. -
1988 Anti-Drug Abuse Amendment Act
This act increased sanctions for drug-trafficking crimes and established new Federal offenses. -
California Proposition 215
Otherwise know as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, this California Law, enacted by means of an initiative, allowed patients with doctor's recommendations, along with the patients' primary caregivers, to possess and cultivate marijuana for medical use. -
Washington Measure 692
State of Washington now allows for use, possession, and cultivation for medical marijuana. -
Oregon Measure 67
Allows patients to possess, use, and cultivate medical marijuana. -
Maine Question 2
Patients diagnosed with epilepsy, seizures, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasticity, and nausea or vomiting from AIDS or cancer chemotherapy may use, possess, and cultivate medical marijuana in light of a physician's written or oral "professional opinion." -
Hawaii Senate Bill 862
Allows patients to possess, use, and cultivate medical marijuana. -
Colorado Amendment 20
Recognizes the use, possession, and cultivation of medical marijuana. -
Nevada Question 9
Recognizes the use of medical marijuana for patients with severe medical illness. -
Jon Gettman petitioned to legalize marijuana
Former director of NORML, Jon Gettman filed a petition to reschedule cannabis under federal law -
Maryland passes medical marijuana affirmative defense law
Requires the courts to consider defendants' use of medical marijuana in marijuana-related prosecution cases. -
California Senate Bill 420
Commonly known as the Medical Marijuana Program Act, SB 420 made more explicit the parameters of Prop 215, such as patient qualifications and more precise definitions of collectives and cooperatives, which distribute medical marijuana. -
Montana Initiative 148
Patients diagnosed with severe illnesses may possess up to six marijuana plants for medical use. -
Hawaii House Judiciary passed resolution allowing for state-qualified farmers to provide medical cannabis for authorized patients
The resolution HCR 49 was passed by the House Judiciary after it had already been amended -
Senator Barney Frank introduces legislation to decriminalize marijuana
Massacusetts Democrat Senator Barney Frank's pending bill seeks to eliminate all federal penalties for the use and possession of up to 100 grams of marijuan, as well as for nonprofit transfers of up to an ounce of marijuana. -
Maine Additional Amendment LD 1811
Allows for the creation of up to eight nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries -
Arizona Proposation 203
Removes state-level criminal penalties for patients with written medical marijuana recommendations. -
Maryland Senate Bill 308
This Amendment removes fines and criminal penalties for defendants who raise an "affirmative defense" to establish that they possessed limited amounts of marijuana for medical purposes -
Washington and Rhode Island Governors Petition the DEA for reclassification of marijuana
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DEA investigates Montana state lawmaker Diane Sands for endorsing medical marijauan
State Democract Senator Sands also shared that the DEA had also approached a criminal defense attorney, asking if Sands had been connected to one of the attorney's clients who was charged with distributing marijuana. -
Delaware medical marijuana law halted by a letter from the Obama Justice Department
The letter stated that if Delaware went forward with the Delaware Medical Marijuana Act, those who subscribed to the new law's implementation would risk federal criminal prosecution. -
New York City Bar Association endorses medical marijuana
The NYC Bar Association has issued a report supporting AB 7347 which would legalize medical marijuana under state law. -
Washington DC chooses six companies to dispense medical marijuana in compliance with DC's medical marijuana law
These selected applicants had to sign a waiver that would relieve the citiy of Washington D.C. from criminal liability if the federal agencies were to raid the new dispensaries -
Oaksterdam University in Oakland raided by the Federal Agencies
Oaksterdam, a cannabis "university" in Oakland, CA was at the heart of the marijuana law reform movement, and provided students with high qualitiy training for the cannabis industry. The Feds arrested, and then released, Oaksterdam founder Richard Lee. There were no other arrests were reported, though bags of cannabis were removed from the Oaksterdam premises. -
Colorado State Democratic party endorses marijuana decriminalization measure
Colorado Democrats announced their support for medical marijuana for the 2012 party platform. -
Connecticut passes medical marijuana bill
Connecticut is now the 17th state to allow for medical marijuana. HB 5389 allows for patients or their caregivers to obtain medical marijuana from dispensaries, which will get their marijuana from licensed producers. -
Texas Democratic party announces support of marijuana decriminalization
Texas Democrats support marijuana decriminalization for the 2012 party platform. -
New York General Assembly approves medical marijuana measure
AB 7347 would allow patients to possess up to 2.5 grams of marijuana. This bill, however, is the third attempt at such a law, as those prior to it have already failed. -
Rhode Island decriminalizes marijuana
Applies to up to an ounce, possessed by a non-minor. The offense is now a civil fine of $150 -
Iowa Democrats adjust party platform to include medical marijuana and industrial hemp
The Iowa Democratic Party has adjusted their platform for 2012 in order to endorse medical marijuana nd the hemp industry. -
North Carolina Democratic party passes resolution supporting medical marijuana and industrial hemp
North Carolina Democratic party has adjusted its 2012 platform in order to include support for medical marijauan and industrial hemp. -
Bill introduced in Uruguay to legalize cannabis
The bill was presented by President Jose Mujica, whose incentive is to decrease violence and monitor consumber use by working to eliminate a marijuana black market. -
New Jersey General Assembly passes marijuana decriminalization measure
Removes criminal penalties for up to half an ounce of marijuana. Presently, for this amount of marijuana, the penalty is a $1000 fine or six months in jail. -
Chicago City Council reduces possession of 15 grams of marijuana or less to a non-arrestable offense
Does not apply to possession in parks or schools, or public smoking -
New Hampshire governor vetoes medical marijuana
New Hampshire is hence left out of New England's trend toward medical marijuana legalization. -
New Jersey State Senate supports marijuana decriminalization
Applies to up to half an ounce of marijuana -
Washington State certifies Initiative 502 to regulate marijuana
Washington approved a statewide measure for the November 2012 ballot to regulate the production and distribution of marijuana -
Harborside raided by Feds
Perhaps the most legitimate dispensary out there, and the largest, Oakland's Harborside Health Center was raided by the federal agencies, merely on the bases that state and federal laws conflict. -
Massachusetts medical marijuana initiative approved for November 2012 ballot