Marijuana? No!

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Marijuana use has been a contentious topic in the United States since the early 20th century. Marijuana initially became popular among Mexican refugees and the Black jazz community from the 1910s to 1930s, and thus much of the government pushback was mired in racism. Despite new leniency and an explosion of popularity during the 1960s and 1970s, the War on Drugs in the 1980s heavily criminalized drug offenders, including those using marijuana. However, after research suggested positive benefits the drug had on patients impacted by cancer and AIDS, a major shift in public perception occurred. Some medications derived from marijuana are FDA approved for treatment of cancer, AIDS, and epilepsy.

As of 2023, marijuana laws in the U.S. are complicated: though it is still illegal federal, it is legal for both medical and recreational use in many states.