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Why is marijuana illegal?
The hatred of cannabis did not arise from medical concerns.
The Fear of Cannabis Didn’t Start In the US
In the 1930’s, the hatred of marijuana was mobilized by the US government and used as a method to discriminate against Mexican immigrants, black people, and the poor.
Many people blame Anslinger for the fear of cannabis, and he certainly had everything to do with making it illegal, but he wasn’t the start of the movement. Prohibitionist attitudes didn’t even originate in the United States.
The fear of marijuana actually began in Mexico right around the same time the Catholic church took political control of the government.
Spanish Conquests
From 1519-1521 the Spanish Conquests occurred.
During this period the Catholic Church sent conquistadors from Spain. They murdered Aztecans, destroyed native civilizations, and force-evangelized the indigenous population.
Nahuatl, the native language of the Aztecan people, did not have a written history. Because of this the language and most of the original Aztecan culture was lost.
Attack on Native Healers
It’s unclear if cannabis had made it’s way to Mexico before the Spanish Conquests. As wheat spread across the globe well before humans traveled it, it’s possible that hemp did as well. However, cannabis may have arrived with the conquistadors themselves.
Aside from the medicinal use of marijuana, the indigenous people had an in-depth knowledge and history of medicinal herbal use. The Aztech people used a variety of intoxicating plants medicinally and ceremonially.
BUT, during this period of time, the Catholic Church determined that the use of plants in healing was the work of the devil. The penalty for it was death.
In Europe, during the Spanish Inquisition traditional healers were killed. At the same time, Spanish conquistadors murdered native healers in North America. Without a written history, much of their knowledge was lost.
READ: Things That Are More Dangerous Than Cannabis
The Word Marijuana Derives From Nahuatl
There’s some question of where the word “marijuana” come from. It came to the US in the early 1900’s. It’s a Mexican word, it’s not a European word and is not derived from Latin.
It is believed by many experts to be derived from Nahuatl. The English language has borrowed words from many other languages, including a variety of words derived from Nahuatl, including coyote, peyote, and chili.
Mexico’s Independence vs Catholic Church
In 1821, the Mexican people won their independence. But the Catholic Church continued to control the government as a powerful political party and remained in control. Until 1850, only Catholics could be Mexican citizens.
The catholic church continued to remain opposed to the use of medicinal plants, claiming they were associated with the devil. This caused a fear of cannabis among many citizens.
The book, Home Grown: Mexico’s War on Drugs, cites multiple headlines from Mexican newspapers that profess the fear of marijuana. Those headlines are eerily similar to the ones appearing in the US during “reefer madness”.
Negative headlines targeting cannabis, appeared in Mexico significantly before the US campaigns began
Marijuana Was Outlawed In Mexico Before The US
Marijuana was illegal in Mexico 17 years before it was outlawed in the US.
Cannabis was common before 1937 – but it was not called marijuana.
Before 1937, cannabis was a common medication. A variety of cannabis tinctures were available at the local pharmacy. Doctors routinely encouraged use, but no one called it Marijuana.
The plant was referred to as cannabis. Most Americans didn’t even realize that marijuana and cannabis were the same plant.
READ: Best Dry Herb Vape For Every Budget
Fear Grew In The US
Before the 1900’s cannabis was common in the US but only as a medicine, being regularly sold in pharmacies. The concept of smoking dried cannabis flowers was brought to the US by immigrants from mexico who called the flower, marijuana.
During alcohol prohibition, smoking marijuana in social settings became more popular, because smoking cannabis was legal at the time.
After alcohol prohibition ended, the country entered a time of economic decline (the Great Depression). As economic prospects worsened, the population began to fear Mexican immigration.
Mexican Immigration Exploded Right Before The Great Depression
Before the Mexican civil war in 1910, about 20,000 people migrated from Mexico to the US each year. After the war by 1920, that number skyrocketed to over 100,000 people each year.
Now, at first, the US welcomed Mexican workers, especially in the southern states. Before 1929, businesses were booming. Southern plantations and farms needed laborers and Mexican immigrants were perceived as hard workers for low wages.
Mexican Immigrants Brought A New Way of Using Marijuana – Smoking
With them, Mexican immigrants brought dried plants that they smoked for personal use. The Mexican word they used to describe this plant was “Marijuana”. The word comes from the Nahuatl, Mexico’s indigenous people.
Because of the affordability and ease of access (you could grow it in the yard), the practice of smoking marijuana spread to the lower socioeconomic classes. Cannabis became popular among jazz communities which were predominantly black.
The Stock Market Crashed & The Great Depression Ensued
When the stock market crashed in 1929, the country entered The Great Depression. Businesses were no longer booming and jobs were no longer in demand.
In fact, competition for the few existing jobs fanned racial tensions. Mexican immigrants were no longer welcome. Americans blamed the state of the economy on blacks & immigrants
Politicians were determined to stop immigration and send immigrants back to Mexico.
The government developed a variety of schemes to repatriate immigrants. A free one-way train ticket to Mexico was offered to some. Others were tricked or kidnapped and then returned to their home country. At times, residents who weren’t even Mexican were deported, under suspicion they might be.
Politicians mobilized the fear of marijuana, as motivation to close the border and encourage deportation.
(I wonder why they didn’t just build a wall.)
The Fear Campaign Against Marijuana
Newspapers published outrageous accounts about a dangerous new substance being used (very similar to the ones listed in Mexico papers decades before). Now, keep in mind, the headlines targeted the dried plant that was being smoked, they called it “marijuana”. Many didn’t even realized it was the same thing as cannabis which was sold in every pharmacy.
Read the headlines & quotes from DrugWarrant.com:
“There are total 100,000 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.”
Reefer Madness
The government planted fear into America’s brain and America grew it into prohibition
In 1936, the movie Reefer Madness came out. Watch it and try to keep in mind that today this movie trailer looks like a comedy. BUT, in the 1930s, Reefer Madness was considered an “important film”. People took the “danger” very seriously.
Cannabis prohibition was NOT born from health concerns.
After the American Medical Association realized marijuana and cannabis were the same plant they fought against cannabis prohibition.
Here’s a 1937 letter from the American Medical Association, pleading for the government NOT to make cannabis illegal.
Their pleas and protests were ignored and in 1937 cannabis was made federally illegal.
Why is marijuana illegal?
Purists & Racism
Remember, in the 1930’s a large portion of the population were purists. Purists are those who wish to purify the population by eliminating vices.
Purists had succeeded in briefly banning alcohol and were unhappy at the reversal of alcohol prohibition in 1933. PBS.org notes that at the time, alcohol was considered by many as a “great evil to be eradicated — if America were ever to be fully cleansed of sin.”
Purists believed that mind altering substances were evil. If alcohol was evil, marijuana was too. The frightening headlines in the newspaper served as “proof”.
In the 1930’s, people didn’t understand “alternate facts”. Exaggerated and inaccurate news was commonplace and people believed everything they read.
Marijuana is only illegal because of racism, fear, and ignorance.
If you suspect that there was a scientific health basis for making marijuana illegal, PLEASE, read the transcripts of the congressional hearings yourself.
You’ll see that everything included in the hearings was poppycock & hearsay.
Why is marijuana still illegal?
Sadly, we still have purists controlling the government.
For example, former Attorney General, Jeff Sessions said this week, “I’m not sure we’re going to be a better, healthier nation if we have marijuana sold at every corner grocery store.”
Now, selling marijuana in every grocery store is extreme. However, how does selling cigarettes in every grocery store make the nation healthier?
In fact, while we’re at it, let’s address the fact grocery stores are LOADED with products that do NOT contribute to the health of our nation.
READ: Why People Are Afraid of Cannabis
It’s Not About health.
We live in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The Land of the Free. If we’re free damage our bodies with alcohol, tobacco, artificial colors, and excessive amounts of sugar, then why can’t we grow our own medication?
Why can’t we grow medication for the dying and sick patients who are suffering?
Conclusion
It’s been over eighty years and cannabis is still illegal. Doctors are still pleading with the government to reconsider their stance…to allow reearch. Andthe government is still refused to justify their position.
Marijuana has been repeatedly to a decrease in the use of opiates. USA today discusses one study, “Opioid Use Decreases in States that Legalize“. Additionally, in some patients, cannabis can actually help FIGHT opiate addiction.
READ NEXT: In 1937, The American Medical Association was Pro-Cannabis
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