In the USA marijuana laws differ from state to state. However there are also federal laws that can be applied across the country. The first such act which dealt with the power of the state in matters relating to seizure and punishment for violation was the Uniform State Narcotic Act (1925-32). In 1930 the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was set up. Stricter laws followed and in 1952 and 1956 the Boggs Act and the Narcotics Control Act were passed respectively which made the possession of marijuana a crime. In 1973 enforcement of US marijuana laws received a boost when a single federal department Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was set up. However since the 1970′s there has been an increasing trend towards decriminalization of marijuana use especially in the the medical field.
