Why was the possession of cocaine legal back in the day and illegal now?

Why was the possession of cocaine legal back in the day and illegal now?
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Why was the possession of cocaine legal back in the day and illegal now?
Throughout the 19th century, the trade of most opiates and cocaine was unregulated by governments and was commonly found laced in foods, drinks, and beverages. For example, Vin Mariani, a wine sold across France wand United States, contained 7.2 milligrams of cocaine per ounce and was popular with customers in 1863. The renowned Coca-Cola beverage too was usually spiked with 60 milligrams of cocaine. Introduced in 1886, cocaine became popular due to the invigorating and euphoric effects it invoked on its consumers. Cocaine was also laced in chocolate bars, patented the medicine, tonics and toothache cures (Gootenberg, 1999). Cocaine was used by medical practitioners as an anesthesia in patients during surgical procedures and was also used to treat other addictions though eventually it proved to aggravate the addiction. Sigmund Freud, who was among the first people to popularize the drug claiming it cured depression and sexual impotence, had other benefits. This resulted to its perpetuation through the silent film era and was taken up by Hollywood. The use of cocaine in the United States was eventually high with more than a million users. This paper seeks to examine “why the possession and usage of cocaine in the United States was legal before 1914 and illegal now.” In attempt to respond to the question, several examples, as well as concepts are clearly provided and explained from a broad point of view.
Over the years, the use of plants for medication and religious purposes has been commonly practiced. The Coca plant is a good example of plants that have been in use for various purposes. Evidently, cocaine is derived from the Coca plant. The South Americans and Philippines were using the plant as a religious herb. It is worth noting that its use first emanated in 300BC when the Incas who lived in the Andes used it. They used to chew the Coca plant so they could stimulate their heart and breathing rates to help them endeavor climbing into the thin air of the Andes Mountains. When Spain conquered the Americas, they stumbled upon the herb being used by the natives and had tried to abolish it. However, after noticing that the slaves in the gold mines functioned well under its influence, they supplied it to the slaves regularly, and they exported it out of the Philippines and Americas (Gootenberg, 1999).
Evidently, through research, the increased use of cocaine in the United States reached its pinnacle when US took Philippines from the hands of Spanish colony. The US government, in a bid to raise revenue to build a government for the Philippines and provide education, reinstituted a policy instituted by Spanish government in Philippines. They allowed the Chinese to continue processing the opium at a contract fee granting a leeway for William Howar...