Throughout human history, even dating as far back as 3rd Millennium BC(or the "Bronze Age"), Cannabis(a.k.a. Marijuana as it has become commonly known) has been consumed through rituals by Romanians, Hindus, and various other cultures and even modern-day religions. Christians and Muslims alike previously used it for sacraments in ancient times. Today it's one of the largest cash crops in the United States, grossing in the neighborhood of 36 billion dollars in revenue. In a recession-based economy in which the farming industry is failing, why is such a relatively harmless and profitable plant with built-in user base still considered illegal?
In various cases, religions that were once users of cannabis led the stopping of consumption. This is speculated to have began in the Middle Ages for different reasons for different regions. Cannabis had various uses from the recreational uses of today to medicine to the hemp material being used as rope for ships. A great deal of literature came from Europe about the use and consumption from all over the world in the forms of diaries, journals, and publicized reports. Sometimes this let to misconceptions about the drug itself. At the time, it was thought to be extremely similar to Opium, which was also widely used at the time and becoming known for it's addictive qualities. There was also cases of hemp being used in Satanic rituals, which didn't do much to bolster the drug's image in an increasingly religious society.
Muslim law did not prohibit consumption of Hashish(which is basically dried Marijuana) until some period between the 12Th and 14Th centuries after varying degrees of public resistance, and even then they allowed it's use for medicinal purposes. By 1484, Pope Innocent VIII banned the used of cannabis in support of the Spanish Inquisition against Arabs. Other intoxicants that were banned from use due to religious reasons are also hops(used for beer) and coffee(banned by both Islamic and Christian faiths) among others.
Prohibition did not gain popularity in America until the turn of the 20Th Century, before then it was a popular resource for ropes, sails, clothes, and medicinal purposes. However after the Mexican Revolution of 1910 Mexicans immigrated to America and recreational use became popularized soon after. By the mid-1930's there was Marijuana regulation in every state. Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which taxed commercial dealers of Marijuana and had heavy fines and jail time penalties for those who did not pay. By 1951, there was mandatory sentencing for possession of Cannabis. Although Marujuana laws have softened since the 1970's it still remains a Schedule I drug, placed with Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine as having "high potential for abuse, no medical use, and not safe to use under medical supervision". Since then, 13 states have created laws that allow Cannabis for medicinal purposes only. However, Congress does not acknowledge the state laws, instead stating that it has the right to ban Cannabis even for medicinal use(Gonzales vs. Raich, 2005).
As of today, Marijuana is confirmed as completely legal in only 1 country: India. It's regulated by the government and is still considered a sacrament. It is currently the only country that allows unregulated use of the drug and is exempt to the Single Convention Treaty that outlaws Marijuana in most of the modern world. The only other 2 confirmed countries that allow regulated use of the drug are The Netherlands and Pakistan. At least 13 other countries have confirmed it decriminalized for personal use purposes. Most of the world still considers it illegal and punishable by fines and imprisonment. In the countries Antigua and Barbuda(Large quantities), Kuwait(Sale and cultivation), Malaysia(Possession over 200 Grams), Saudi Arabia(Dealing/Smuggling large amounts; becoming rare to execute), Somalia, Thailand(Selling only), Singapore(over 17 Ounces), Indonesia, Bali, and possibly other countries you can actually be executed for Marijuana. In fact, over 200 people have been executed in Malaysia for drug offenses since 1974.
I fail to understand how the punishment fits the crime, in any of these cases. America has it's own problems with prison overcrowding, jailing otherwise law-abiding citizens, and wasting federal money on a law that most clearly have ceased to care about. Yet, other countries have taken things to new extreme. Are these laws in place to protect the people, or subjugate them? Drug crimes are not irredeemable sins; they are not on par with killing innocents or committing war crimes. The need for people to die due for possessing drug is beyond subhuman. Often these sentences are handed out with no remorse for the soon-to-be-executed. Where is the human compassion for our fellow man? Buried under antiquated laws and barbaric traditions? The U.N. is trying to get moratoriums for some of these countries to stop these senseless executions, but I'm sure there are many too stubborn to budge. Even then, it seems the only lives Marijuana will be responsible for taking are from those who weren't under it's influence at the time. Perhaps the truth to Reefer Madness isn't stemming from those who use it at all, but from the ones who persecute those who seem to enjoy using it.
-A Seeker Of Truth.
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