from the wikipedia…
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. To stay consistent with prior law, it is still spelled “marihuana” in some congressional bills such as HR 3037, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2005.
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/marijuana” was slang; it was not included in any official dictionaries.[24] The slang word marijuana/marijuana is probably of Mexican origin. In the years leading up to the tax act, it was actually in common use in America, “smoked like tobacco”, and called “ganjah”, or “ganja”.[25][26] 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,.[27] The southern border states called for action.[27] After the enactment, illegal immigrants and U.S. citizens could be arrested for possession of cannabis.
[edit]