Social Political Issue of Cannabis
In 1937, Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act, which placed all Cannabis culture under the regula- tory control of the U.S. Treasury Department. The Act required the registra- tion and licensing of all hemp growers with the Federal Government in an effort to restrict production of marijuana in the United States (Dempsey; Rawson, 1992; Ehrensing).
During World War II, when imports of abaca and jute were unavailable, the Government instituted an emergency program to produce hemp as a do- mestic substitute. USDA’s Commodity Credit Cor- poration contract- ed with War Hemp Industries, Inc., a quasi-official organiza- tion, to produce planting seed and fiber. Production peaked in 1943 and 1944. After the war, America banned hemp in 1955.

Regulations&Legality

Industrial Hemp is legally grown all over the world. Spain, China, Japan, Ko- rea, and Ireland all pro- duce hemp and enjoy the economic and environ- mental benefits that are in- volved.
In Spain, buying and sell- ing cannabis is a criminal offence punishable by law. Possession and consump- tion at a public place con- stitutes a misdemeanour and is penalized with a fine and confiscation. Growing the plant on private prop- erty for personal use, and consumption by adults in a private space is a constitu- tional right and hence not illegal.