eople by the Hindu god Shiva as a gift. It was taken as a drink mixed with milk and sugar, and was available to many people because it was inexpensive. (Abel 33) Use in ancient Rome was noted around 70 A.D. by a physician named Pedacius Dioscorides in a book about plants and their healing characteristics. The book contained information that marijuana was a good remedy for earaches, and this treatment was used throughout Europe for about 1500 years. Recently scientists discovered a body of a woman who died of childbirth 1600 years ago. Close to the body, a burnt substance was found and with later investigation the substance was determined to be marijuana. Scientists concluded that marijuana was used to ease labor pains (Abel 33).Marijuana use in the United States is more recent. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew marijuana on their estates and Washington said to "Make the most of the hemp seed, and sow it everywhere" (Schleichert 9). During the early 1800's marijuana was sold as extracts that were said to help cure aliments ranging from migraines and asthma to epilepsy, insomnia, chronic bronchitis and gonorrhea. Later, around 1890, the medical use of marijuana declined with the invention of the hypodermic needle. Drugs could now have quicker and more reliable pain relief and finally in 1941 cannabis was taken out of professional drug directories in the United States.Although marijuana has been taken out of drug directories, legalizing the drug would have much value to the medical community.Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule 1 drug, which means it, has a "high potential for abuse, inducing dangerous side effects, and having no currently accepted medicinal use in treatment in the United States". However this classification is out dated. In comparison, Cocaine and Morphine, which are both very addictive, are classified as Schedule 2 drugs and prescribed medically (Schleichert 55). All compounds of marijuana are ...
