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Updated Cannabis History Timeline

A. Early Use and Initial Legalization Attempts

Ancient to Early 1900s: Cannabis is used globally for medicinal, industrial, and recreational purposes.
1910-1920: Anti-drug rhetoric increases in the U.S., often influenced by xenophobia and misinformation.
1930: Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) is founded, with Harry Anslinger appointed as its first commissioner.

B. Shift in Focus After Alcohol Prohibition

1933: End of Alcohol Prohibition: The 21st Amendment repeals alcohol prohibition, and law enforcement agencies, previously focused on alcohol, turn their attention to other substances, including cannabis.
1930s: Anslinger’s Anti-Cannabis Campaign: To justify the FBN’s continued budget and influence, Anslinger intensifies anti-cannabis propaganda, collaborating with media mogul William Randolph Hearst to produce sensationalist stories that portray cannabis as a dangerous, crime-inducing drug.
1936: Release of Reefer Madness, further fueling cannabis-related hysteria in the public.

C. Anslinger Era and the Marihuana Tax Act

1937: Marihuana Tax Act: The U.S. government enacts the Marihuana Tax Act, heavily regulating and effectively criminalizing cannabis. The Act was largely based on misinformation and hysteria, despite evidence that cannabis was not particularly dangerous.
1944: La Guardia Report: Found that cannabis was not as harmful as claimed, but Anslinger works to suppress the findings and continue the anti-cannabis narrative.

D. Post-War & Counterculture Movement

1960s: Cannabis gains popularity in the countercultural movement.
1969: Leary v. United States: Supreme Court overturns the Marihuana Tax Act, ruling it unconstitutional.
1970: Controlled Substances Act (CSA): Signed by Nixon, placing cannabis in Schedule I despite objections from the scientific community.

E. 1980s War on Drugs

1980s: Reagan’s War on Drugs escalates penalties for cannabis use.
1988: DEA Judge Francis Young recommends rescheduling cannabis, but this recommendation is ignored.

F. 1990s and Medical Marijuana Movement

1996: California’s Proposition 215: Legalizes medical marijuana, the first state to do so by voter initiative.
2000: Hawaii becomes the first state to legalize medical marijuana through state legislature (Senate Bill 862), setting a precedent for legislative reform rather than ballot measures.
2000s: Multiple states follow California’s and Hawaii’s leads with medical cannabis laws.

G. Modern Era of Legalization

2012: Colorado and Washington legalize recreational marijuana, marking a significant shift.
2015: Hawaii establishes licensed medical marijuana dispensaries through Act 241.
2018: Farm Bill legalizes hemp and CBD with less than 0.3% THC federally.
2024: Increasing advocacy for federal cannabis descheduling from the Controlled Substances Act.

Cannabis Advocacy Leaders

A. Early Pioneers and Foundational Figures

Fiorello La Guardia: Mayor of New York City, whose 1944 La Guardia Report debunked anti-cannabis myths and found cannabis to be less harmful than publicized.

B. Legal and Scientific Advocates

Timothy Leary: Psychologist and counterculture icon whose landmark case Leary v. United States (1970) helped to challenge the legal framework around cannabis.
Francis L. Young: DEA administrative law judge who recommended reclassifying cannabis to a lower schedule in 1988, though the DEA ignored his recommendation.
Lester Grinspoon, M.D.: Harvard professor who called for the re-evaluation of cannabis in the medical field and strongly advocated for decriminalization.

C. 1990s Medical Cannabis Movement

Dennis Peron: Co-author of California’s Proposition 215 (1996), which made California the first state to legalize medical cannabis.
Mary Jane Rathbun (Brownie Mary): An activist who provided cannabis-infused brownies to AIDS patients, helping raise awareness for medical cannabis use.
Jack Herer: Author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes, a book that highlighted the historical and industrial uses of hemp and cannabis, contributing to the broader cannabis reform movement.

D. Notable 2000s-2010s Legalization Advocates

Steve DeAngelo: Co-founder of Harborside Health Center in California and a leading advocate for social justice in the cannabis industry.
Rick Simpson: Developed Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), a concentrated cannabis extract, and advocated for its use in medical treatment, particularly for cancer.
Ethan Nadelmann: Founder of the Drug Policy Alliance, a group dedicated to advancing drug policy reform, including cannabis legalization.
Keith Stroup: Founder of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), a key organization advocating for cannabis legalization and decriminalization.

E. Modern and Social Equity-Focused Advocates

Wanda James: The first Black woman to own a cannabis dispensary in Colorado, and an advocate for racial equity in the cannabis industry.
Shaleen Title: Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commissioner, working towards promoting social equity and reparations in the cannabis industry.
Jesce Horton: Founder of the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), dedicated to creating economic opportunities for minorities in the cannabis space.
The Last Prisoner Project: An organization working to secure the release of those incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses and promote restorative justice in the cannabis industry.

F. Influential Figures in Media and Education

Tommy Chong: Comedian and actor, who, through his persona, became a prominent cannabis advocate and helped normalize cannabis culture.
Willie Nelson: Musician and cannabis advocate who co-founded Willie’s Reserve, a cannabis brand, and has long advocated for legalization.
Snoop Dogg: Musician and entrepreneur who has promoted cannabis culture through his public persona, his cannabis brand, and business ventures.
Charlotte Figi and Paige Figi: Charlotte, a young girl with Dravet syndrome, was treated with CBD oil, leading to a broader movement for medical cannabis, particularly CBD for pediatric patients, initiated by her mother, Paige.

G. Scientific and Research Contributors

Dr. Raphael Mechoulam: The Israeli scientist who first isolated THC and studied its effects, contributing to the foundation of modern cannabis science.
Dr. Donald Abrams: An oncologist who conducted key studies on cannabis, particularly its therapeutic uses for cancer patients and in symptom management.

H. Recent Influencers and Policy Advocates

RFK Jr.: Political figure advocating for cannabis reform, part of his broader stance on FDA reform and the rights of patients to access cannabis.
Kyle Kushman: A cannabis cultivator and educator, advocating for sustainable cannabis growing practices and patient access.
Dr. Sue Sisley: Psychiatrist known for her research into cannabis for PTSD, especially its efficacy for veterans, advocating for more medical cannabis research.
NORML and Americans for Safe Access (ASA): Organizations that continue to fight for cannabis reform, patient rights, and better research into cannabis’ medical applications.

Cannabis Prohibitionists

A. Early Figures in Cannabis Criminalization

Harry Anslinger: The first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (1930–1962), Anslinger played a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and federal policy that criminalized cannabis. He used yellow journalism and racist tactics to associate cannabis with violent behavior and minorities, influencing the passing of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which effectively outlawed cannabis.
William Randolph Hearst: A media mogul who, alongside Anslinger, used his vast newspaper empire to spread anti-cannabis propaganda. Hearst's financial interests in the timber industry (competing with hemp) are often cited as a motive for his campaign against cannabis.
Dr. James Munch: A pharmacologist who provided testimony during the 1937 hearings that directly influenced the criminalization of cannabis. His testimony was used by Anslinger to exaggerate the dangers of cannabis use.

B. 20th Century Political Figures

John H. Stennis: A Mississippi senator who opposed marijuana legalization and led efforts in the 1960s and 1970s to toughen laws against marijuana.
Nixon Administration: Led by President Richard Nixon, this administration fought heavily against cannabis use and was responsible for the War on Drugs in the 1970s. Nixon’s "Controlled Substances Act" (CSA) of 1970 classified cannabis as a Schedule I drug, contributing significantly to its criminalization.
Edwin Meese: U.S. Attorney General under President Ronald Reagan, Meese was a strong proponent of the War on Drugs, promoting the criminalization of cannabis and reinforcing punitive measures against drug offenders.

C. 1980s–2000s Anti-Legalization Advocates

William Bennett: As the drug czar under President George H. W. Bush, Bennett was a staunch advocate for maintaining cannabis prohibition and was part of the movement that led to the ramping up of drug law enforcement, including harsh penalties for marijuana offenses.
C. Everett Koop: The U.S. Surgeon General under Reagan, Koop opposed the medical use of cannabis and publicly declared that it had no therapeutic value, a stance that influenced policy for years.
Patricia Heaton: An actress and outspoken critic of cannabis legalization, especially medical marijuana, during the late 1990s and 2000s. She argued against its use on moral grounds, asserting that it would encourage more recreational use.
Kevin Sabet: Founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), Sabet has been a vocal opponent of cannabis legalization, focusing on health concerns and opposing recreational legalization.

D. Contemporary Cannabis Legalization Opponents

Chuck Schumer: Although Schumer has evolved in his stance on cannabis (eventually supporting legalization in recent years), he was once a critic, particularly regarding medical marijuana and the potential social consequences of legalization.
Ralph Nader: Consumer advocate and politician, Nader was historically against marijuana legalization, citing concerns over social and health impacts. However, his views have shifted more recently to support decriminalization in some capacity.
Nancy Reagan: As First Lady under Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan was a prominent advocate for the "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign, which included strong opposition to marijuana legalization.

E. Political and Media Influencers

Bill O’Reilly: A prominent conservative commentator and host of The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly was an outspoken critic of cannabis legalization, dismissing it as harmful to society and pushing for more aggressive anti-drug policies.
Rush Limbaugh: Conservative radio personality, Limbaugh regularly spoke out against cannabis legalization, framing it as a societal threat that needed to be combated through stricter laws and policy.
Ted Cruz: U.S. Senator from Texas, Cruz opposed cannabis legalization, arguing that marijuana had serious health risks and that states should not have the right to legalize it.

F. Law Enforcement and Judiciary Critics

Michael Botticelli: Former Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy under President Obama, Botticelli was a critic of the legalization movement, arguing that marijuana had negative effects on public health and safety.
James O'Keefe: Journalist and conservative activist, O'Keefe and his organization, Project Veritas, have taken a stance against marijuana legalization, claiming that it could destabilize communities and lead to greater substance abuse.

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