Humans have used the marijuana plant for thousands of years; the cover story in this month’s National Geographic magazine looks at the science behind pot.
The author of High Science, Hampton Sides, is a journalist and author of bestselling nonfiction books.
We explored the 5,000 year history humans have had with marijuana, where marijuana use is legal, the pioneering research of Israeli chemist Raphael Menchoulam & Spanish biochemist Manuel Guzman, the concept of “medical refugees,” and a Colorado Supreme Court decision announced Monday:
“Colorado’s Supreme Court has ruled that a medical marijuana patient who was fired after failing a drug test cannot get his job back.
“The case has big implications for employers and pot smokers in states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana. Colorado became the first state to legalize recreational pot in 2012.
“Though the Colorado case involves medical marijuana, the court’s decision could also affect how companies treat employees who use the drug recreationally.
“Brandon Coats is a quadriplegic who was fired by Dish Network after failing a drug test in 2010. The company agreed that Coats wasn’t high on the job but said it has a zero-tolerance drug policy.
“Courts in California, Montana and Washington state also ruled against medical marijuana patients fired for pot use.” (from AP).
Here are more images are from the June issue of National Geographic magazine.
