Marijuana has been used as a euphoric agent since ancient times (Narconon International, p. 1, para. 1). It was used in early Chinese culture as a medicinal element as early as 2737 BC (Narconon International, p. 1, para. 1). Its use began to spread throughout Pacific culture and eventually made its way to Europe around 500 AD (Narconon International, p. 1). In this early culture, it was believed to have medical effects that helped with rheumatism, gout, malaria, and even absent-mindedness. It was not until the drug reached Indian culture that it began to be used as a recreational drug due to the intense euphoria it caused (Narconon International, p. 1, para 1). Yet it was Muslims who made the drug widespread and popular in Persia and North Africa. In 1545, the Spanish introduced the drug into European culture, which eventually brought the drug to America and has since become a staple of American culture as we see it today. It was not until the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 that marijuana, along with heroin and LSD, was classified as a Schedule I drug (Narconon International, p.1, para 5). In America today, marijuana is one of the most controversial issues in Congress. Leaders are using their views on legalization as part of their campaign ads. On June 23, 2011, DC lawmakers introduced a bill to Congress to officially legalize marijuana use in the United States. Nearly eight hundred thousand arrests are made each year due to marijuana-related charges (Congress to Legalize Marijuana, 2011). The idea that the war on drugs campaign launched by Nixon when he was in office was seen as a failure. However, in 1979, marijuana use was 13.9 percent and in 2008, that figure declined...... middle of paper ...... with increasing crime, violence and drug use, the legalization of marijuana adoption today would be an unrealistic and insane bill. In the 1960s, marijuana was a common plant grown all-naturally and mostly free of the chemical additives that make the drug so dangerous today. Marijuana is one of the easiest drugs to combine and add other drugs, which intensifies the effect in someone smoking it today compared to someone smoking it fifty years ago. years. It has had no proven medical benefit in humans and remains an addictive and harmful drug to its users. “Pot”, “grass”, “herb”, “weed”, “Mary Jane”, “reefer”, “skunk”, “boom”, “gangster”, “kif”, “chronic” and “ganja” are some common street names for drugs that everyone still knows, most people couldn't tell you the name of all the presidents of the United States from the country they were born and raised in..