Cannabis sativa (marijuana) first became of interest in the United States in the mid-19th century, as did hashish. Some doctors prescribed a tincture of cannabis for oral use or injection. Most users mixed marijuana with food or smoked it. According to Morgan, cannabis was available in candy, food, and some drinks, all ready for purchase and with no controls on its use or consumption. Says Morgan: "Between 1840 and 1900, dozens of articles in the medical journals suggested cannabis for innumerable ailments, and it entered the pharmacopoeia in 1870. It seemed useful as an anticonvulsant and relaxant, even in cases of tetanus and hydrophobia [rabies]. Doctors experimented with it widely, often to alleviate disorders for which they had no other remedies."

Marijuana was used to treat insomnia and migraine, especially the migraines of women. In addition, it was used to treat labor pains, postpartum psychosis, and sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea. Some physicians used marijuana to treat opium addiction.

By the end of the century, the use of marijuana by the general public declined, and it did not again become a popular drug for several generations, from the 1960s to the present.

References:

Morgan, H. Wayne. Drugs in America: A Social History 1800-1980. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press, 1981.

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