The history of cannabis is vast, spanning thousands of years and numerous cultures, valued for its use as a fiber, food, medicine, and psychoactive substance. Its modern history is characterized by a shift from widespread acceptance to prohibition, followed by recent movements toward legalization. 
 

The late 20th and early 21st centuries have seen a powerful movement challenging the federal status of cannabis.

• Medical Legalization: In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis with the passage of Proposition 215. This initiated a wave of similar legislation across numerous other states.

• Recreational Legalization: In 2012, Colorado and Washington made history by becoming the first states to legalize the recreational use and sale of cannabis for adults over 21. As of November 2023, 24 states have legalized recreational use.

• Scientific Advancements: The 1964 isolation of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the primary psychoactive compound, by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, and the subsequent discovery of the endocannabinoid system in the 1980s and 1990s, have opened new avenues for scientific research into its therapeutic potential.

• Hemp Farming Act: The 2018 Farm Bill was a landmark piece of legislation that removed hemp (cannabis with less than 0.3% THC) from the CSA, creating a legal market for THCa products.