U. S. history is full of leaders who shaped the way we think about, drink, smoke, and consume cannabis. From Pershing to Trump, these leaders have had an impact on how people consume marijuana in America.
President Trump has been very public about his marijuana use. In 2013, he hosted a gala celebration for the National Association of Cannabis Business Executives (now known as the Bipartisan Cannabis Business Association). During his speech, he discussed how he was introduced to marijuana as a kid and how it helped him deal with anxiety.
This was no accident! He was probably pushed to do it by his advisor Richard Dohoff. Dohoff worked for President Obama and helped forge relationships between government and the cannabis industry.
Trump has also spoken about his drug use in private conversations. In 2011, when he was still married to Maryanne McPeak Trump claimed that she did not like drugs because she did not approve of them.
Barbara Boxer
Boxer is one of America’s most recognizable politicians. A member of the U.S. Senate for California, she has served in that role since 1992.
Boxer is a longtime opponent of cannabis, having sponsored numerous unsuccessful bills to restrict or ban the use of CBD and other compounds in marijuana. One such bill, S.25, was recently defeated in the Senate thanks to Boxer’s efforts.
Known as the “Cocaine Congresswoman,” Boxer was one of only a handful of senators who voted against former President Obama’s 2014 re-authorization of the Ford F-Series truck program. She cited lack of congressional oversight as a reason for her opposition to the measure, which she said ignored concerns about drug dealing and abuse within Congress.
Dianne Feinstein
When she was in the Senate, Feinstein played a significant role in cannabis policy by introducing the Compassionate Use Act in 1996. This bill allowed patients with severe medical conditions to use medical marijuana.
Since then, more than twenty states have passed medical cannabis laws, making it one of the most common ways to consume marijuana. Many people find it helpful for pain and nausea when they use it as a medication.
Many people also use it for spiritual purposes. Several researchers have found that using cannabis is an effective way to relieve stress and improve moods.
Jerry Brown
Former Governor and Former President Jerry Brown is well known for his work in climate change policy, including the creation of the world-classcarbon market known as the Paris Agreement.
He has also been an advocate for cannabis and marijuana policy reform, having signed several pieces of legislation related to the plant.
Some of his most important pieces of cannabis legislation include a 2002 law that allowed people with disabilities to use medical pot, a 2013 law that authorized local governments to regulate and tax marijuana, and a 2017 bill that removed criminal penalties for simple possession of an instrument containing CBD.
These laws have had an impact on California’s cannabis landscape, allowing people with disabilities access to medical pot while reducing related issues such as overdose and dependency rates. Cannabis tourism has risen alongside this law, further driving California’s economy.
Moreover, local governments have been able to regulate and tax marijuana since 2013 which has helped lower overall costs for patients.
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon served as the first U.S. president for two years, four months and one day, making him the shortest-serving president in U. S.
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi is the top leader of U.S. Congress, serving in that position since 1998. She has also served in several other capacities, including that of speaker of the house.
When she isn’t serving in congress, she is running the Democratic caucus and lead on legislative priorities. She has been a pivotal player when it comes to cannabis policy and politics.
She first became involved in cannabis politics as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee where she worked on issues related to taxation and regulation for years. She then went on to serve as the top Democrat on the Subcommittee on Health where she focused her attention on medical marijuana legislation.
Her work with health care legislation played a huge role in how California passed its own medical marijuana law in 1996, making her one of only a handful of democrats who have worked on both sides of the aisle.
George W. Bush
Under President George W. Bush, California became a major player in the cannabis industry. Dubya passed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in 1999, which allowed large banks to begin lending against small business assets. This new law was a game changer and helped spread small business across the nation, making it easier for larger businesses to expand.
By creating credit unions, they were able to offer more cannabis loans and expansion than large banks could. Many small businesses couldn’t obtain a traditional loan as they did not have enough of an established dollar amount of debt that required approval from a bank.
This was important as only big debt can get you on bank account, making it more difficult for some to expand. By having smaller banks available, some were able to offer more loans and expansion than one would with a larger one.
John Ashcroft
After the war in Vietnam, there was a widespread fear of government intervention in our lives. This fear was especially widespread during the 1970s and 1980s, when we were being subjected to numerous social programs and new regulations.
This fear was partly justified. In 1976, after a series of highly publicized incidents, Congress passed the Controlled Substance Act that required pharmaceutical companies to create drug medications for public distribution.
These drug medications were expensive at around $600 for the medication itself, $100 for shipping and packaging, and $50 for marketing. These added costs made them out of reach of most people until they needed them.
This law did not create any new drugs or medication, but it did raise awareness about controlled substances and how they should be used. This increased demand led pharmaceutical companies to invest in their products enough to make them cost- effective.
Jerry Brown
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, several prominent leaders in the counterculture movement used cannabis to study its effects on consciousness. One of these men was Jerry Brown, the governor of California at the time.
In his later years, he studied metaphysics and mysticism, becoming quite knowledgeable about cannabis and its effects on consciousness. He believed that through cannabis, we can access a higher level of existence than we can with other things.
He even published a book on the subject, entitled A Century of Pot smoking in California. In it, he talks about how cannabis has been part of Californian culture for centuries and that it has never been considered illicit or illegal.
He believes this is one of the reasons why so many high school students continue to smoke cannabis after graduation due to its recognition as an educational tool.
