I could write a Master’s Thesis on this topic but I’ll keep it short for any of my friends with A.D.D.!
We’d like to think that the process of making Marijuana illegal was done through research along with the use of science and knowledge to determine that it was in fact dangerous to humans and should be made illegal, taxed or both. NOPE!
The people and entities that voted against it, historically did so, at a minimum, out of;
- Prejudice against all minorities and poor people
- Unreasonable fear in the lack of research, knowledge and misinformation at multiple levels
- As a cause, as Marijuana was used as a tool to advance public figures in life. People like Harry J. Anslinger and legislators who had special interests, and did not do their homework and/or were totally corrupt.
- The protection of large corporations that felt Marijuana was competition.
In the early days Marijuana and Hemp were used for many things;
- Incense
- Fabric that was woven
- Canvas, especially for sails for sailing ships
- It was also used to fill in the natural cracks to keep the boat from leaking
- Cordage used for baling cotton
- Rope (this is what we called Marijuana when we were kids, lol)
Marijuana was first found and used in China before 2500 B.C.
Personally, I think it was earlier than that but there is no real evidence. I believe it could have been used by Neanderthals but again there is no real evidence. BUT, all early man had to do was throw some Marijuana into the fire as fuel, inhale the smoke and voilà! Or not. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- Marijuana showed up again in Egypt about 1500 B.C. This explains a lot about the Egyptians, lol!
- After that, Marijuana became popular when shipping became wide-spread and the demand for rope and sail canvas increased in volume and it was use widely and effectively for those purposes for many years.
- About 800 A.D. Hashish became popular in the Middle East and Asia. The spread happened at the same time as Islam was spreading because the Quran forbade the use of alcohol but did not specifically forbid Marijuana.
Something now widely known, the word assassin comes from the Latin word assassinus which comes from hasisi, or hashashun meaning hashish eater. As the story goes, Shiite Muslims in the 11th century ate hashish before murdering their enemy on assassination missions. They were feared and became famous for taking out political or religious enemies after eating hash.
- Marijuana and hash spread worldwide after that.
- In 1484 Pope Innocent VIII issued a “papal bull” that denounced both witchcraft and the use of marijuana. Now that’s a nice combination.
- In 1619 in Jamestown Colony, farmers were ordered to grow Indian hempseed. It was so widely accepted you could pay your taxes with Hemp. Can I pay my taxes that way? Lol!
- In 1906 President Roosevelt signed into law the pure food and drug act which required sellers to label the amount and name of the drug in the package. But didn’t require the FDA to supervise the process.
- In 1914 the Harrison Act defined possession of Marijuana as a crime and it was taxed if used.
- In 1930 The Federal Bureau of Narcotics was formed with Harry J. Anslinger as its head.
- In 1937 The Marijuana Tax Act was passed to criminalize Marijuana nationwide.
This is where Harry J. Anslinger used William Randolph Hearst’s articles, lies and deceit to bring down Marijuana for years to come. The bright light fighting to keep this absurd legislation from passing was Dr. William C. Woodward. Dr. Woodward asked the legislators to prove all of Anslingers false claims. Dr. Woodward ultimately failed as the “deck” was stacked against him and the Tax Act was voted into law!
- In 1952 the Boggs Act and in 1956 The Narcotics Act set up mandatory sentences for use and possession of Marijuana and other substances.
- In 1970 The Controlled Substances Act classified Marijuana along with Heroin and LSD as a Class 1 drug.
- In 1971 Richard Nixon declared a War on Drugs (silly in retrospect don’t you agree?)
The person who did the most significant action against marijuana was Harry J. Anslinger.
Harry J. Anslinger killed marijuana in the US for decades!
I have a very negative opinion of this guy with his prejudices and evil processes but that’s MY OPINION!!
- Harry J. Anslinger was a power hungry bureaucrat, a racist and a hate monger.
- Harry J. Anslinger got his start in prohibition and moved on to marijuana when prohibition ended.
- Harry J. Anslinger married the niece of Andrew Mellon who was Secretary of the US Treasury. Mellon at the time was one of the wealthiest people in the country. Mellon also had ties to DuPont. It is alleged that Anslinger used that relationship to align himself with DuPont and William Randolph Hearst, who added DuPont’s muscle in league with Harry J. Anslinger in the fight against marijuana for their own personal and business reasons.
Why did William Randolph Hearst want to help fight against marijuana?
- William Randolph Hearst was in the timber industry and felt that Hemp was competition.
- William Randolph Hearst lost thousands of acres of timberland to Poncho Villa in the war and William Randolph Hearst hated that, and as a result, hated Mexicans.
- William Randolph Hearst made thousands of dollars selling newspapers talking about how bad Mexicans were and how bad the “devil weed” was on mankind.
- Mexicans were importing the “devil weed”.
- William Randolph Hearst felt Marijuana produced crimes of violence.
Why did DuPont chemical company go after Marijuana you ask?
- DuPont had a patent on nylon and the company felt Hemp was competition to their main product line.
Why did several pharmaceutical companies go after Marijuana?
- The pharmaceutical companies could not figure out how to use Marijuana in those days. (I think that has now changed)
- People did not need pharmaceutical companies for Marijuana because it could be grown in their back yard.
How did Harry J. Anslinger help his friends?
- Anslinger locked up every drug user he could find. He swept millions of lives into his net.
- Anslinger ruled over the public for more than 30 years.
- Anslinger created rules and laws that shaped policy for years to come.
- Anslinger had many complicit politicians who shared his hatred of minorities.