April 28, 1997 "Legalization of Marijuana" Cannabis sativa or marijuana has been cultivated for over 5,000 years. The plant spreads like milkweed and will eventually run out any other plants nearby. In the wild, or grown with care marijuana can grow to be 3 - 20 feet high. The plant itself can be used for rope, material, medicine or for smoking. But, whatever way you choose to use this plant, it is illegal.
It was made a law in the early 1900's that it was illegal to smoke, eat, or get high from this plant. The plant's only legal use was for rope and materials. Even this was controlled by the government though. In the 1960's and 1970's a group of youth stereotyped as "Hippies" were using marijuana on a regular basis to get "high." This is the term for the effects of the drug when smoked. The effects are that of "ataxia, increased appetite, and a sensation of dryness in the throat."
(A.P.E. L to M 193). These "hippies" fought to legalize it. Groups such as the major one, "N.O.R.M.A.L." formed to fight for the right to smoke marijuana. Protests were formed and marches and festivals were held.
On the other side of this was the government cracking down and forming new laws to keep it illegal. In the 1980's the fight to legalize marijuana was decreased, but the groups like "N.O.R.M.A.L." were still around. Although the people weren't so strong-willed to legalize it they still fought. New and harder drugs were now popular and marijuana wasn't as "popular." In the early 1990's the drug was once again popular after the side effects of the new drugs were seen. The drug's popularity still increases today. Only there is more violence surrounding it in drug deals and gang...