Cannabis history in the United States stretches from colonial hemp farms to licensed dispensaries like ours in Clay, New York. The plant has been a cash crop, a common ingredient in patent remedies, a target of federal prohibition and, more recently, a legal product regulated state by state. Understanding cannabis history helps explain why today’s rules look the way they do, and why New York built its adult-use market around licensing, testing and social equity.
Cannabis History in Colonial America: Hemp as a Crop
For most of early American history, cannabis meant hemp. Colonists grew it for rope, sailcloth, paper and textiles, and several colonies encouraged or even required farmers to grow it. Hemp remained an ordinary agricultural crop through the 1800s, valued for its tough fiber rather than for any intoxicating effect.
Cannabis History in the Early 1900s: Labeling Laws and Changing Attitudes
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, cannabis extracts appeared in many over-the-counter products. The federal Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 required labels on products that contained cannabis and other listed substances, an early step toward regulation. Over the next few decades, states began restricting cannabis on their own, often amid public campaigns that later historians describe as shaped by prejudice as much as by evidence.
1937 to 1970: From Federal Tax to Federal Prohibition
The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 placed heavy taxes and paperwork requirements on cannabis, effectively ending most legal commerce. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act placed cannabis in Schedule I, the most restrictive federal category, alongside drugs considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. That classification set the framework for decades of federal enforcement.
The War on Drugs: A Turning Point in Cannabis History
Through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, cannabis arrests climbed across the country. Enforcement fell unevenly, and Black and Latino communities experienced arrest rates far higher than white communities despite similar rates of use. That history is a central reason why New York’s legalization law was written to direct part of the new market toward people and communities harmed by past enforcement.
State Reform Begins: 1996 to 2012
In 1996, California voters approved the first state medical cannabis program. Other states followed over the next decade and a half. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize adult-use cannabis, creating the first regulated retail markets for adults 21 and over. That marked a new era in cannabis history. Since then, roughly half of U.S. states have adopted some form of adult-use legalization, while cannabis has remained illegal under federal law.
Cannabis History in New York
New York created a limited medical cannabis program with the Compassionate Care Act of 2014. On March 31, 2021, New York enacted the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), Senate Bill S854A, legalizing adult-use cannabis for people 21 and over. The law created the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the Cannabis Control Board, set a goal of awarding half of adult-use licenses to social and economic equity applicants, and cleared many past cannabis convictions.
The first licensed adult-use sale in New York took place in December 2022. The first retail licenses were issued under the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) program, which prioritized entrepreneurs with past cannabis convictions or family members affected by enforcement. Read more in our post on the CAURD program.
Federal Changes: Hemp, Pardons and Rescheduling
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp, defined as cannabis with no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight, from the federal list of controlled substances. In 2022, the President announced pardons for federal simple possession convictions, and in 2024 the federal government began a formal process to consider moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. Federal rules continue to evolve, so check official sources for the latest status. The next chapter of federal cannabis history is still being written.
What Cannabis History Means for Shoppers Today
Today, adults 21 and over in New York can buy cannabis from licensed dispensaries that sell only state-tested, properly labeled products. Under OCM guidance, adults may possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of concentrated cannabis, consumption is not allowed in vehicles, and cannabis may not be taken across state lines. If you are visiting a dispensary for the first time, our first-time dispensary guide explains what to bring and what to expect.
At Raven’s Joint in Clay, NY, we are proud to be part of the newest chapter of cannabis history in New York. Browse our live menu, read the dispensary FAQ or plan your visit.
Important: The information on this page is general educational information only. It is not medical, legal or professional advice, and it is not a recommendation to buy or use any cannabis product. Raven's Joint makes no health or therapeutic claims about any product. Do your own research, read every product label carefully, and talk with a qualified professional about your own situation. Laws and rules change; confirm current requirements with the New York State Office of Cannabis Management at cannabis.ny.gov. For adults 21 and older only.
