It has been called reefer, Mary Jane, dope, bud, weed, grass, but its correct name is cannabis. There are three distinct species of cannabis: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Marijuana is one of the most debated and controversial drugs. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in America. Marijuana was not nationally banned until the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was blindly passed. The passage of this bill was done with the congressman being misinformed and coerced. The Marijuana Tax Act was passed out of racial discrimination and prejudice. From the passing of this act the criminal punishments have been created which target and persecute African Americans, through out this paper may be referred to as Blacks, and Latinos. The current drug war that the government is engaged in is a war that is not being won by the government. This drug war is proving to be a war that the government cannot win and is wasting billions of dollars in vein (Marijuana Information, 2003).
             Before 1937 and even after most people did not know what marijuana was. As a society people did not care about marijuana being used as a drug. However people were interested in the products that could be ascertained from it. Individuals and industries were interested in using the seed; the oil that comes from the seed and the fiber that comes from the plant. The oil was used in soap, paint, varnish, linoleum, waxes, and wood treatments. The seed was also used as birdseed and the fibers were used in the production of rugs, paper, and rope (Marijuana Information, 2003).
             The first drug law that was passed in the United States was passed in 1875. The first regulatory drug law was passed solely out of prejudice; this law targeted opium use among the Chinese immigrants. This law did not prohibit the selling, trading, importing of opium, and did not prevent opium to be used as medicine. In San Francisco the smoking of opium was outlawed becau...