chose to become a traffic ticket attorney because I have very strong feelings about helping protect the rights of others. Yet, as an attorney, I try to remain neutral about certain subjects, and one of those subjects is the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana and the effects that it has on any given individual is not my area of expertise, but advocating that you do not engage in any illegal activities is definitely one of my responsibilities as an attorney. Much to the disappointment of many, the use of marijuana is still illegal in the State of Florida. Consequently, how I feel about its use is irrelevant.
Now that I have clearly established that I am neither an advocate for, nor a detractor of, the use of marijuana beyond the constraints of the law, I would like to discuss the matter in greater detail.
For nearly four thousand years, Cannabis has been used as an entheogen; that is, as a substance used to bring about a spiritual awakening or experience. Although it is difficult to discern where this practice originated, there are historical records that indicate that it has been cultivated and harvested ever since humans became an agrarian society. This substantiation has been found in numerous countries which include Africa, China, Greece, India, and Nepal, as well as others.
In addition to its use as an entheogen, Cannabis has been employed in a variety of other ways such as an industrial fiber. This fiber is used in making paper, textiles, and clothing although when used for clothing, it is often combined with other kinds of fibers. It is also used in some food items. It has figured prominently in pop culture in the form of films and songs, as well as becoming a multi-billion dollar industry here in the U. S. alone.
Trying to nail down exactly when Cannabis became illegal in the United States is no easy task. In the early 1900s, it became classified as a habit-forming drug by the New York Board of Health. Also during the early years of the 20th Century, controversy began to brew nationally over the effects that it has on individuals. There were many who felt that it led to increased sexual desire, violent behavior, irrationality, and, in agreement with the N. Y. Board of Health, habituation. As the result of concerns of this nature, the U. S. government began to demand that products that contained marijuana or its by-products must be labelled "poison."
In effect, the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was initially what made it illegal. Although this act did not necessarily criminalize possession of marijuana, it did impose penalties and enforcement provisions upon those who were involved in the use and sale of it. It was a catch
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق