Marijuana: Myths

The movement for the freedom to use Marijuana has been a controversial global issue. Marijuana (Cannabis Savita) is derived from the dried leaves and flowers of the Cannabis plant and is the most common form of Cannabis. It has been used for thousands of years and is one  the three most widely used recreational substances alongside alcohol and cigarettes. It however has been treated as an ugly illegal drug for the last half century in many countries, including the USA, UK and New Zealand. Despite the fact that marijuana has been prohibited, surprisingly it has been the most in-demand illicit drug as well as resulting in many people being apprehended for using it. New Zealand is not an exception. Then why has it been illegal and why has the prejudice towards marijuana been formed.

The CBS News (2009) reported the reason cannabis became an illegal drug over a half century ago was simply because of prejudice against Mexican migrants who used the herb. There was no research done about it nor any evidence to support the prohibition of cannabis. Prohibiting such herb seems to make it even more popular. Although cannabis has been classified as an illegal substance, more than 100 million Americans have tried it. In fact, over 40% of its citizens support the notion that cannabis should be legalized like alcohol and tobacco.


There is an interesting video clip about a brief history of cannabis.