Why is Marijuana illegal but not Nicotine?

Nicotine wasn't discovered until the early 1800s, but I get your meaning. Prior to that, there were attempts at banning tobacco, beginning with King James (of Bible fame). Another anti-smoker was Adolf Hitler. Among his many other faults, he was a health nut and a vegetarian. read more

Which gets us to why marijuana was banned in the first place. At the time, while alcohol prohibition was in effect, there was a media panic about Mexicans and blacks smoking marijuana. They made up all kinds of crazy stuff about the effects of smoking dope - Reefer Madness, and all that. read more

Steve Fox, director of public affairs for the National Cannabis Industry Association, blames it on government propaganda and cultural bias. read more

The reason alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine are legal in the US (and elsewhere) is because they haven't been made illegal. Alcohol was, for a time, but that did not have the intended effect and it was later re-legalized. read more