Medical marijuana is one of the most controversial topics in politics. Marijuana can be addictive, but it has many medical uses. Many patients found it very effective, trumping any other medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter. Medical marijuana should be legalized in North Carolina, but should be regulated because it has helped people with conditions such as glaucoma, cancer, and any physical or emotional pain. Cannabis has been known to man since 7000 BC (Chronology of the legalization of marijuana). In 1619, the Jamestown Colony in Virginia passed the first cannabis law, stating that it was mandatory for all farmers to grow cannabis sativa or hemp because of the strong fiber they used to make ropes , veils and clothing (Legalization of Marijuana Timeline). During the 1800s, medicines based on cannabis extracts were produced by American pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly, Parke-Davis, and Squibb (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). In 1910, in the southwestern United States, Mexican immigrants introduced the recreational use of cannabis, which they called “marijuana” (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). In 1915, Utah was the first state to pass an anti-marijuana law, followed by twenty-nine other states (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). In 1922, the Narcotic Import and Export Act was enforced to control all cannabis entering or leaving the United States (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). In 1930, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was established (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). In the 1960s, “hippies” smoked marijuana, a symbol of rebellion (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). In 1968, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and the Bureau of Dangerous Drugs merged to form the Bureau...... middle of paper ...... War on Pot. " Los Angeles Times. January 22, 2013: A.11. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. April 24, 2014. MacCoun, Robert J. and Peter Reuter. The Heresies of the War on Drugs: Learning from Other Vices, Times and Places . Cambridge University Press, 2001. 19,24. Print. Merino, Noel Medical Marijuana: Greenhaven Press, 2011. 23-24,27,29-32,35-38,96-97,101,105,127-128. “Pot for medical purposes? Of course. To get high? USA TODAY. October 30, 2012: A.10. Researcher on SIRS issues. Web. April 24, 2014. ProQuest Staff. “At issue: Medical marijuana.” ProQuest LLC. 2014: np Researcher on SIRS issues. Web. April 24, 2014. ProQuest Staff. “Marijuana Legalization Timeline.” Chronology of the main questions. 2013: np SIRS Issues Researcher Web, April 24, 2014. Ross, John K. “The State of Marijuana Legalization.” 32. MasterFILE ended April 22.. 2014.