Blog 7
Continuing from Blog stage 5 commentary
The question, 'Why was marijuana ever illegal?' has to be answered with knowledge and understanding of when this plant came into the people's hands in the U.S. According to Stephen Siff's article "The Illegalization of Marijuana: A Brief History" marijuana was first cultivated for its property of hemp fiber, which was used for rope and clothing due to the fact it is a very strong material. However, people in the U.S. only started to practice the activity of smoking the plant after Mexican immigrants were practicing it. This is interesting because at first marijuana was called cannabis until Mexico popularized the name 'marihuana' across the nation. In an advertisement by a Vanity Issue magazine publisher, the "hashish candy" referring to marijuana was advertised as a treatment for "nervousness and melancholy" and was portrayed to be a "pleasurable and harmless stimulant."
During the 1920's 26 states passed prohibition laws of the plant, with no controversy or debate. According to Amy Tikkanen's article "Why is marijuana illegal in the U.S.?" Harry J. Aslinger, the head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics ran an anti-marijuana campaign "relying heavily on racism." Claiming that it was mainly used by minorities and that it "had a negative effect on these 'degenerate races'" causing "violence" and "insanity". He also stated that "Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men." and also thought that women "smoking pot would result in their having sex with black men."
As a result of this led to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 which made the drug illegal across the U.S. and was shortly replaced by the Controlled Substances Act the following year
The question, 'Why was marijuana ever illegal?' has to be answered with knowledge and understanding of when this plant came into the people's hands in the U.S. According to Stephen Siff's article "The Illegalization of Marijuana: A Brief History" marijuana was first cultivated for its property of hemp fiber, which was used for rope and clothing due to the fact it is a very strong material. However, people in the U.S. only started to practice the activity of smoking the plant after Mexican immigrants were practicing it. This is interesting because at first marijuana was called cannabis until Mexico popularized the name 'marihuana' across the nation. In an advertisement by a Vanity Issue magazine publisher, the "hashish candy" referring to marijuana was advertised as a treatment for "nervousness and melancholy" and was portrayed to be a "pleasurable and harmless stimulant."
During the 1920's 26 states passed prohibition laws of the plant, with no controversy or debate. According to Amy Tikkanen's article "Why is marijuana illegal in the U.S.?" Harry J. Aslinger, the head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics ran an anti-marijuana campaign "relying heavily on racism." Claiming that it was mainly used by minorities and that it "had a negative effect on these 'degenerate races'" causing "violence" and "insanity". He also stated that "Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men." and also thought that women "smoking pot would result in their having sex with black men."
As a result of this led to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 which made the drug illegal across the U.S. and was shortly replaced by the Controlled Substances Act the following year
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