ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a description of cannabis and a history of its evolution from an essential crop at the dawn of civilization to a controversial and illicit drug in most countries. Following this is a series of brief biographical sketches depicting key figures that have played major roles in influencing the course of how we view marijuana—William O’Shaughnessy, Harry Anslinger, Raphael Mechoulam, Richard Nixon, Nora Volkow, Ronald Reagan, and others. The chapter concludes with the status of the march toward legalizing marijuana by some states, and the incentives or pressures other states have to follow suit.
