When and Why Did Cannabis Become Illegal in the United States?
Question by I changed my name.: When and why did Cannabis become illegal in the United States?
I need FACTS, I’m doing a paper and I’m arguing FOR legalization. I need to know when it actually became illegal, who was mainly responsible for it and most importantly, WHY it’s a banned substance.
If you have a reliable source, that’s even better. So far I can’t find anything on the interweb machine that doesn’t sound like it was written by a brain surgeon. By the way, I’m not asking you to do my paper; I have written most of it already. All I need is this to finish it.
Best answer:
Answer by Nightwind
Marajuana use to be brought up by migrant farm workers following the crop rotations from Mexico in the early 20th century. William Randolph Hearst lobbied to make it illegal mostly because hemp was considered to be a threat to him and his newspaper empire.
Answer by Jimmy Whispers V
Who- There is a big name in the BS. Harry J. Anslinger. In his speech he says-
There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.”
“…the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.”
“Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.”
“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”
“Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing”
“You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.”
“Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”
Why- Racism, fear, protection of corporate profits, ignorant, incompetent, and/or corrupt legislators, personal career advancement and greed.
When-
California, 1913
Utah, 1914
Other state laws 1915-37
Marijuana was outlawed in 30 states by 1930. There were two primary reasons for the laws.
In the southwestern states, marijuana was outlawed because of racial prejudice against the Mexicans who used it. As one Texas legislator said, “All Mexicans are crazy and this stuff (marijuana) is what makes them crazy.”
In the other states, it was outlawed because of fears that heroin addiction would lead to the use of marijuana – exactly the opposite of the modern “gateway” myth.
he Marihuana Tax Act of 1937
Marijuana was outlawed at the national level in the US by the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. (Note that the US Government has traditionally used the spelling “marihuana”.) There were a number of reasons given for its passage in the congressional testimony. The quotes included:
* Two weeks ago a sex-mad degenerate, named Lee Fernandez, brutally attacked a young Alamosa girl. He was convicted of assault with intent to rape and sentenced to 10 to 14 years in the state penitentiary. Police officers here know definitely that Fernandez was under the influence of marihuana. But this case is one in hundreds of murders, rapes, petty crimes, insanity that has occurred in southern Colorado in recent years.
* I wish I could show you what a small marihuana cigaret can do to one of our degenerate Spanish-speaking residents. That’s why our problem is so great; the greatest percentage of our population is composed of Spanish-speaking persons, most of who are low mentally, because of social and racial conditions.
* Did you read of the Drain murder case in Pueblo recently? Marihuana is believed to have been used by one of the bloody murderers.
* . . .a boy and a girl . . . lost their senses so completely after smoking marihuana that they eloped and were married.
* It is commonly used as an aphrodisiac, and its continued use leads to impotency.
* Practically every article written on the effects of the marihuana weed will tell of deeds committed without the knowledge of the culprit, while he was under the influence of this drug. . . . “A man under the influence of marihuana actually decapitated his best friend; and then, coming out of the effects of the drug, was as horrified as anyone over what he had done” (9). Then we have the case of a young boy in Florida. The story runs as follows: “A young boy who had become addicted to smoking marihuana cigarettes, in a fit of frenzy because, as he stated while still under the marihuana influence, a number of people were trying to cut off his arms and legs, seized an axe and killed his father, mother, two brothers and a sister, wiping out the entire family except himself.” (10)
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