The only mystery about Chicago is why it's as (relatively) affordable as it is. The cost to live comfortably here is $68,67, more than $15,000 a year less than New York or LA, the other two of the three biggest cities in the nation. If you don't mind lake-effect snow, you should definitely consider locating here.
Marijuana dates way back; the first evidence of Marijuana smoke inhalation dates back to 3rd Millennium BC from the discovery of charred seeds found in a brazier located in Romania. The most famous ancient users of Marijuana were the Hindus who called it Ganjika (or Ganja). Other ancient users included the Assyrians, Scythians, Thracians, and Dacians who all used it in religious ceremonies. It is believed that the first Marijuana plants originated in the Middle East.
The Huffington Post chased the term back to its roots and was able to find it in a lost patch of cannabis in a Point Reyes, California forest. Just as interesting as its origin, it turns out, is how it spread. It starts with the Dead. It was Christmas week in Oakland, 1990.