Constitutionality aside for a second... a lot of people don't realize just why Marijuana is illegal. It really had nothing to do with Marijuana causing crimes.
Back then two of the biggest supporters of criminalizing marijuana was Hearst and Anslinger.
Hearst had some heavy investments in the timber industry to support his newspaper chain which were threatened by the development of hemp paper. In addition he had a problem with "mexicans" having lost about 800,000 acres of timberland to pancho villa. He loved telling stories about mexicans and their "devil weed" in his papers. As we all know that kind of sensationalize sells and it helped make him rich.
It is strongly thought that the whole reason was Hearst's financial stake in having marijuana banned (as well as him being a bit off a "racist") and his finding of a strong ally in Anslinger who pretty much made his career on it and technically was the first Drug Czar (though that title wasn't used back then).
The two used fears of "drug crazed" minorities and sensationalized made up stories about said minorities going on murder sprees, raping "white women" as well as how when "white women" smoked the insidious substance they were prone to seeking out and fornicating with minorities.
I really wish people did some research. It's not like it's hard to do these days.
Just in case you missed it here are some of the things that were put out to the public to try and spread the fear:
“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.”
Marihuana makes fiends of boys in thirty days — Hashish goads users to bloodlust.”
“By the tons it is coming into this country — the deadly, dreadful poison that racks and tears not only the body, but the very heart and soul of every human being who once becomes a slave to it in any of its cruel and devastating forms…. Marihuana is a short cut to the insane asylum. Smoke marihuana cigarettes for a month and what was once your brain will be nothing but a storehouse of horrid specters. Hasheesh makes a murderer who kills for the love of killing out of the mildest mannered man who ever laughed at the idea that any habit could ever get him….”
And other nationwide columns…
“Users of marijuana become STIMULATED as they inhale the drug and are LIKELY TO DO ANYTHING. Most crimes of violence in this section, especially in country districts are laid to users of that drug.”
“Was it marijuana, the new Mexican drug, that nerved the murderous arm of Clara Phillips when she hammered out her victim’s life in Los Angeles?… THREE-FOURTHS OF THE CRIMES of violence in this country today are committed by DOPE SLAVES — that is a matter of cold record.”
Those are just a fraction of it. It is really quite ridiculous.
Back then two of the biggest supporters of criminalizing marijuana was Hearst and Anslinger.
Hearst had some heavy investments in the timber industry to support his newspaper chain which were threatened by the development of hemp paper. In addition he had a problem with "mexicans" having lost about 800,000 acres of timberland to pancho villa. He loved telling stories about mexicans and their "devil weed" in his papers. As we all know that kind of sensationalize sells and it helped make him rich.
It is strongly thought that the whole reason was Hearst's financial stake in having marijuana banned (as well as him being a bit off a "racist") and his finding of a strong ally in Anslinger who pretty much made his career on it and technically was the first Drug Czar (though that title wasn't used back then).
The two used fears of "drug crazed" minorities and sensationalized made up stories about said minorities going on murder sprees, raping "white women" as well as how when "white women" smoked the insidious substance they were prone to seeking out and fornicating with minorities.
I really wish people did some research. It's not like it's hard to do these days.
Just in case you missed it here are some of the things that were put out to the public to try and spread the fear:
“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.”
Marihuana makes fiends of boys in thirty days — Hashish goads users to bloodlust.”
“By the tons it is coming into this country — the deadly, dreadful poison that racks and tears not only the body, but the very heart and soul of every human being who once becomes a slave to it in any of its cruel and devastating forms…. Marihuana is a short cut to the insane asylum. Smoke marihuana cigarettes for a month and what was once your brain will be nothing but a storehouse of horrid specters. Hasheesh makes a murderer who kills for the love of killing out of the mildest mannered man who ever laughed at the idea that any habit could ever get him….”
And other nationwide columns…
“Users of marijuana become STIMULATED as they inhale the drug and are LIKELY TO DO ANYTHING. Most crimes of violence in this section, especially in country districts are laid to users of that drug.”
“Was it marijuana, the new Mexican drug, that nerved the murderous arm of Clara Phillips when she hammered out her victim’s life in Los Angeles?… THREE-FOURTHS OF THE CRIMES of violence in this country today are committed by DOPE SLAVES — that is a matter of cold record.”
Those are just a fraction of it. It is really quite ridiculous.
