Etymology
Although the spelling "marijuana" is more common in current usage, the correct spelling in the Marihuana Tax Act is "marihuana". "Marihuana" was the spelling most commonly used in Federal Government documents at the time.
In addition, the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 legitimized the use of the term "marijuana" as a label for hemp and cannabis plants and products in the US and around the world. Prior to 1937, "marijuana" was slang; it was not included in any official dictionaries. The word marijuana is probably of Mexican origin. Mexico itself had passed prohibition for export to the U.S in 1925, following the International Opium Convention. In the years leading up to the tax act, it was actually in common use in the United States, "smoked like tobacco", and called "ganjah", or "ganja". Considerable issues existed involving illegal immigration of Mexicans into the United States, and the one thing Mexicans were identified as being in possession of was cannabis, aka marijuana. The southern border states called for action. After the enactment, illegal immigrants and U.S. citizens could be arrested for possession of cannabis.
Read more about this topic: Marihuana Tax Act Of 1937
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