Cannabis History Timeline

8000 BC

Earliest Known Use of Cannabis

Archaeological evidence in ancient China shows cannabis seeds and fibers were used for food, textiles, and rituals. Hemp is believed to be one of the first cultivated crops.

2737 BC

Cannabis in Traditional Medicine

Chinese Emperor Shen Nung documents cannabis as a medicinal herb in his pharmacopeia, noting its use for pain and ailments.

1910

Mexican Revolution Brings Cannabis to the U.S.

Mexican immigrants introduce recreational cannabis to the U.S. during the revolution, popularizing the term “marijuana.” This sparked cultural adoption in certain areas of the U.S. (like California), but also fueled stigma which set the stage for future prohibition efforts.

1937

Marijuana Tax Act Passed in the U.S.

The Marijuana Tax Act imposed heavy taxes and regulations on marijuana, which effectively criminalized cannabis use.

1970

U.S. Passes the Controlled Substances Act, Which Classified Cannabis as Schedule 1

The U.S. Controlled Substances Act classified cannabis as a schedule 1 drug, deeming it to have "no medical use" and high abuse potential.

1996

California Legalizes Medical Cannabis

California passes Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, legalizing medical cannabis for patients with a doctor’s recommendation. This was the first U.S. state to legalize medical marijuana.

2012

Colorado and Washington Legalize Recreational Cannabis

Colorado and Washington become the first U.S. states to legalize recreational cannabis via voter initiatives (Amendment 64 and Initiative 502). This was a turning point in mainstream acceptance.

2014

Uruguay Became First Country to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Uruguay legalizing recreational marijuana was a global milestone in the cannabis legalization movement and led to many more countries following their lead.

2018

U.S. Farm Bill Legalizes Hemp

Donald Trump passed the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act (also known as the 2018 Farm Bill), which legalized hemp and hemp-derived CBD (with less than 0.3% THC) at the federal level in the U.S. This removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, which sparked a boom in CBD products and agriculture.