For a long time, cannabis has held an interesting place in American society and culture. Even though it is illegal in much of the U.S., many still consume it on a regular basis and there is a thriving semi-legal market for devices that help one properly consume "herbal remedies." YouTube is filled with videos of people smoking cannabis, as well as "How-To" guides of various ways to prepare, store and use cannabis. In a time where the law is still deciding if the people are ready for cannabis, the people have decided and are waiting for the law to take notice.
As recently as two centuries ago, cannabis was considered a "fashionable narcotic," something used socially or in the quiet hours of the evening after the day's work was done. There was no big fuss about it at the time, no special attention given to it. Cannabis was just used quietly, when the user deemed appropriate, and few seemed to care about the usage. However, as many of us know, it is very different these days.
Let's fast forward a bit. While cannabis was freely available for a few decades, restrictions on its sale and distribution were added slowly over time. In the early 1900s, the criminalization of cannabis had begun. It only grew from there, and slowly cannabis reached its present state as a Schedule I drug. For those not up to date on legal terminology in regards to drugs, a Schedule I drug is a drug known to the United States Government that has a high potential for abuse and no known medical use.
Naturally, many disagree with the status cannabis holds in the American government. This can be seen due to the attitude many states take in their own cannabis legislation. California is already one state that has medicinal usage for cannabis. Colorado, as well as Washington state, have both fully legalized recreational usage, permitting any legal adult to walk into a recreational dispensary and purchase cannabis for their own recreational usage. This all flies in the face of the "no medical use" aspect of cannabis' Schedule I status. The acts of legalization completely fly in the face of the federal government's stance on cannabis and specified medicinal use seems to disprove the "no known medical use" status that cannabis currently holds on the federal level.
There are a number of amusing side effects on American culture in regards to cannabis being illegal. As previously stated, much of the country has decided to just go ahead and enjoy cannabis without waiting for the law to decide if they are allowed to. Vaporizers designed for "herbs", water pipes and psychedelic glass pipes for "tobacco only". The cannabis industry is thriving and well in America, and Uncle Sam can either fight it or get his cut.
