Why is Marijuana Illegal? Part Two

An excellent question, and one that should be explored.  It would seem logical that cannabis was made illegal because it went through extensive testing, scientific analysis, and other thorough and rigorous investigation.  The truth is that the prohibition of cannabis was largely a result of 3 things: 1)Monetary Ravenousness, 2)Revenge and 3)Racism (what I call the “3 R’s”). In this second edition of my blog, we will explore the second and third “R’s”....

Revenge and Racism...(The following text comes directly from author Paul Guither).  In the early 1900s, the western states developed significant tensions regarding the influx of Mexican-Americans.  The revolution in Mexico in 1910 spilled over the border, with General Pershing’s army clashing with bandit Pancho Villa.  Later in that decade, bad feelings developed between the small farmer and the large farms that used cheaper Mexican labor.  Then, the depression came and increased tensions, as jobs and welfare resources became scarce.

One of the ”differences” seized upon during this time was the fact that many Mexicans smoked marijuana and had brought the plant with them, and it was through this that California apparently passed the first state marijuana law, outlawing “preparations of hemp, or loco weed”.  Other states quickly followed suit with prohibition laws in Wyoming, Texas, Iowa, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arkansas, and Nebraska.  These laws tended to be specifically targeted against the Mexican-American population.

When Montana outlawed marijuana in 1927, the Butte Montana Standard reported a legislator’s comment: “When some beet field peon takes a few traces of this stuff...he thinks he has just been elected president of Mexico, so he starts out to execute all his political enemies.” In Texas, a senator said on the floor of the Senate: “All Mexicans are crazy, and this stuff is what makes them crazy.”  Again, racism was part of the charge against marijuana, as newspapers in 1934 editorialized: “Marijuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men’s shadows and look at a white woman twice.”

Harry Anslinger, the first head of the Department of Narcotics, used this racist propaganda to help destroy the cannabis industry.  He also relied on revenge. William Randolf Hearst (newspaper magnate) despised the Mexicans.  But, more importantly, he wanted revenge.  Hearst was heavily invested in the timber industry - he needed timber to support his newspaper empire.  He had lost 800,000 acres of timberland to Pancho Villa - he wanted revenge for this huge loss.  He was a willing and wealthy accomplice in the campaign against cannabis.  Hearst, using his vast newspaper empire, started the newspaper campaign of lies and deceit aimed at the American people, and the world, against cannabis.

Next week we will close out this topic with a summary of ‘Why is Marijuana Illegal’. 

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About the author: Nicole Penson is the owner/operator of Nicoles Naturals LLC - we offer products that are rich in CBD extracted from organic, lab-tested hemp.  Check us out at www.nicolesnaturalsllc.com

Resources: Paul Guither - drugwarrant.com
The History of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937-David Musto, MD
Marijuana-The First Twelve Thousand Years - Ernest Abel
The History of the Non-Medical Use of Drugs in the United States - Charles Whitebread, USC Law School
Washington-Drug-Defense.com