Years ago people didn't think of marijuana as a harmful drug, but as a very useful material. The fiber of hemp is used for paper, fuel, food and medicine. From all these are thousands of possibilities for using hemp. It wasn't until 1937 that marijuana was prohibited for the first time under federal law; it was called the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, signed by F.D. Roosevelt in Pennsylvania (Melissa Jones 1). After thousands of years of use why should we look down on marijuana? It's time for people to realize the good of what this plant can do for our society.
Today 35 states have passed laws supporting the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. When smoking marijuana it relieves pain, nausea, stunts the growth of malignant breast tumors, protects the brain cells of stroke patients from being killed off, and helps people suffering from cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, menstrual cramps and depression. It has also been scientifically proven that marijuana has little to no addictive properties and little potential for abuse. However, marijuana is still in the same categories as LSD, cocaine, and heroine.
Hemp is cannabis grown specifically for industrial use and contains very low levels of THC( the source of marijuana is the hemp plant (cannabis sativa) and its content of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and other cannaboids found in the leaves and flowering shoots of the plant.) (Yahoo Health.) In the 1600's hemp was considered such a vital resource, that laws were passed ordering farmers to grow it. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington both grew hemp on their plantations. When hemp is properly grown, it has virtually no psychoactive effects when consumed. Unlike many crops, hemp can be grown in most locations and climates and it needs just moderate water and fertilizer. Hemp is one of the most environmental friendly fibers on the world, requiring no pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. .
Many products are made from hemp such as: baseball caps, gloves, inks, paper and the list can go on.