The botanical enigma of cannabis and its growing uses, dating from 1155 AD through the twenty first century, have impacted its users so greatly that, as a result of activism, in 2017, eight states have legalized recreational marijuana, and another twenty six have legalized medical marijuana (Governing). The Cannabaceae classified plant began its movement toward legalization in 1972, in the city of Ann Arbor, where the Michigan legislature passed the Ann Arbor City Ordinance (Booth 1, 2). This Ordinance reduced marijuana possession to a minor offense (“Grass”). Legalization activism then continued with decriminalization of marijuana in Oregon with the Oregon Decriminalization Bill of 1973 (“Grass”). Increasing social acceptance and positive Marijuana initially became associated with music during the Harlem Renaissance with the rise of jazz. Among that community, marijuana was referred to as muggles, tea, or reefer. Marijuana, initially arriving in New Orleans, was transported by jazz musicians to places along the East Coast, changing the nightlife of the North (“Grass”). More specifically, the marijuana origination in Harlem, New York can be attributed to Mezz Mezzrow. Mezzrow was a jazz musician and marijuana dealer, notoriously arrested for possession of marijuana at the New York World’s Fair in 1940 (Halperin 94). His memory lives on with the jazz slang “mezz” referring to marijuana. Popular musicians influenced by marijuana user during the Renaissance was trumpeter Louis Armstrong (Halperin 94, 44). References to marijuana appeared in his song, “Muggles.” As a result of Armstrong’s fame, the song reached a large audience, beginning a push towards social acceptance (Stevens 2). Armstrong used the marijuana frequently, and subsequently was arrested for possession and use in Los Angeles in 1931. Other famous musicians arrested for marijuana related crimes include Gene Krupa, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards (“Grass,” Halperin 118). Marijuana also played a major role in the renowned Woodstock & Art Fair as supported by the New York Times estimation of 99 percent of the
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