Green Revolution: A History of Cannabis Culture in the United States

Cannabis culture has been around just about as long as the plant itself. From its arrival in America to the rapid legalization of modern times, here’s a brief history.

Hemp the Cash Crop

Cannabis made its entrance into the Americas along with Jamestown colonists in the early 1600s. Its role in the production of items like rope, sails, and clothing made it a massive cash crop. The cultivation of hemp was so valuable that the Virginia assembly passed a law requiring every farm to grow hemp.

Hemp flourished in America through the next few centuries. Even founding father and first President George Washington cultivated hemp at his Mount Vernon residence, though purely for industrial use. 

Plant of the Marginalized

Attitudes towards cannabis began to shift around 1910, when the Mexican Civil War drove families across the border and into the U.S. The influx of Mexican immigrants would help popularize cannabis’ recreational use. This association with Spanish-speaking newcomers combined with lawmakers’ prejudice produced a negative connotation surrounding the drug. 

Here at the turn of the century, Americans started to see the beginning of anti-drug campaigns that attributed cannabis use to terrible crimes, reports NPR. With rumors swirling around Mexican immigrants distributing “killer weed” to American schoolchildren, legislators clamped down on cannabis use.

Meanwhile, immigrants from Jamaica and other Caribbean islands brought cannabis to New Orleans. Its popularity began to skyrocket along with a new music called jazz. Cannabis use was especially common among performers by the time the 1920s rolled around. Weed and jazz were a match made in heaven, with the liberating effects of a cannabis high playing directly into the improvisational spirit of the genre.

The Government Cracks Down

When prohibition hit the U.S., jazz, cannabis, and alcohol were driven underground. Secret nightclubs and liquor stores known as speakeasies allowed jazz to thrive. As prohibition laws targeted these venues, the link between jazz and cannabis strengthened as both represented resistance. Legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong challenged stigmas and spoke about the plant’s positive influences.

During The Great Depression, the link between cannabis and the racist attitudes towards foreigners intensified. When research alleged that cannabis use led to acts of violence and crime, the government started its crackdown. 

The propaganda film “Reefer Madness,” was released in 1936. A cautionary tale of a group of teens whose lives are ruined by pot, the movie further stroked the fear of the American public. Shortly after, Congress criminalized cannabis in 1937 with the passing of the Marijuana Tax Act.

Changing Tides

The government once again found itself emboldening the cultivation of cannabis during World War II. With a scarcity of imports, America’s’ “Hemp for Victory” campaign encouraged farmers to stay home and plant hemp to help produce marine cordage, parachutes, and other military essentials. Farmers who obliged were granted draft deferments.

Despite legislation in the 1950s that established a mandatory sentence of two years for possession, what we accept as modern cannabis culture really began to thrive in the changing political and cultural climate of the 1960s. According to the National Library of Medicine, use of weed skyrocketed among young adults and adolescents.

The hippie movement adopted cannabis as a symbol of rebellion and peace. Along with the movement came an increase in experimentation with drugs like cannabis and LSD, which were promoted as a way to expand consciousness. 

These “flower power rebels” felt alienated from society. The war in Vietnam, a culture focused on material possessions, and the mistreatment of minority groups at home created a common feeling of disillusion. They rebelled by experimenting with communal living, vegetarian diets, and holistic medicine. 

The “Back-to-the-Land” movement saw a significant migration from cities to more rural areas. Many fled to Northern California and planted cannabis in the region now known as the Emerald Triangle.

The War on Drugs

In spite of these developments, President Richard Nixon would double down on anti-drug policies with his now infamous War on Drugs. Over the course of the decade, conservative parent groups and the newly formed DEA helped convince the public of the “dangers” of cannabis. 

The 1970s also saw the creation of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws as well as the founding of High Times, a magazine advocating for the legalization of cannabis. Furthermore, pot was decriminalized in 11 states by the end of the decade. 

In pop culture, bands like Pink Floyd and Funkadelic provided the soundtrack for endless smoke sessions. Meanwhile, a new genre called reggae made its way from Jamaica to the states. Its biggest star, Bob Marley, championed the use of cannabis himself. Here is also where we see the invention of the traditional Stoner Comedy in 1978 with Cheech and Chong’s Up In Smoke.

With legislations like the Anti-Drug Abuse Act and the Crime Control Act, President Ronald Regan only strengthened federal restrictions against cannabis throughout the 1980’s. 

Modern Times

The 1990s saw cannabis continue to gain mainstream prominence. The HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s drove a new legalization campaign headed by the LGBTQ+ community. Dennis Peron, an openly gay man who lost his partner to the disease, fought a long legal battle for medicinal rights. Now considered the godfather of the legal cannabis movement, Peron co-wrote Proposition 215 in 1996. Voters approved the measure that same year, making California the first state to legalize the medical use of cannabis.

In 1992 Dr. Dre’s iconic album The Chronic shifted the landscape of hip hop, introducing the world to “G-Funk,” as well as future celebrity stoner Snoop Dogg. Dre and Snoop were far from the only hip hop artists in the 90s to pay homage to the plant, with groups like Cypress Hill, Outkast, and Pharcyde joining in on the fun.

The 1990s also saw a new golden age of stoner comedies. Films like Dazed and Confused, The Big Lebowski, and Friday became staples of the culture.

These trends would seep into the 21st century. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize recreational use. As of right now, the recreational use of cannabis is legal in 24 states as well as Washington D.C.

So what is cannabis culture like today? Thanks to the work of advocates, and minority communities, it’s far less of an underground movement. What used to be a symbol of resistance and a counter to the mainstream is now associated with health and wellness. While we may not know what the next step of this cultural evolution may be, we look forward to seeing it unfold.