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Post by QueenFoxy on Apr 18, 2019 10:57:32 GMT -6
Why Is Marijuana Illegal in the U.S.?  Since the late 20th century, there has been a growing movement in the United States to legalize marijuana. In 1996 California made news as the first U.S. state to approve the decriminalization of pot for medical use, and medical marijuana was later allowed in other states. Then in 2012 Washington and Colorado passed ballot initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana. By 2019 more than 30 U.S. states permitted some marijuana use—though it remained unlawful at the federal level. This raises the question, why was marijuana ever illegal?
The short answer is racism. At the turn of the 20th century, cannabis—as it was then commonly known in the United States—was a little-used drug among Americans. With the start of the Mexican Revolution in 1910, however, many Mexicans began moving to the United States, and they brought with them the tradition of smoking marihuana. Amid a growing fear of Mexican immigrants, hysterical claims about the drug began to circulate, such as allegations that it caused a “lust for blood.” In addition, the term cannabis was largely replaced by the Anglicized marijuana, which some speculated was done to promote the foreignness of the drug and thus stoke xenophobia. Around this time many states began passing laws to ban pot.
In the 1930s Harry J. Anslinger, head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, turned the battle against marijuana into an all-out war. Some believe that he was motivated less by safety concerns—the vast majority of scientists he surveyed claimed that the drug was not dangerous—and more by a desire to promote his newly created department. Whatever the impetus, Anslinger sought a federal ban on the drug, and to this end he initiated a high-profile campaign that relied heavily on racism. Anslinger claimed that the majority of pot smokers were minorities, including African Americans, and that marijuana had a negative effect on these “degenerate races,” such as inducing violence or causing insanity. Furthermore, he noted, “Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.” Perhaps even more worrisome to Anslinger was pot’s supposed threat to white women’s virtue. He believed that smoking pot would result in their having sex with black men.
Aided by an eager news media—and such propaganda films as Reefer Madness (1936)—Anslinger eventually oversaw the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act in 1937, which effectively made the drug illegal across the United States. Although declared unconstitutional in 1969, it was replaced by the Controlled Substances Act the following year. That legislation classified marijuana—as well as heroin and LSD, among others—as a Schedule I drug. Perhaps unsurprisingly, racism was also evident in the enforcement of the law. According to some studies, African Americans in the early 21st century were nearly four times more likely than whites to be arrested on marijuana-related charges—despite both groups having similar usage rates. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2019 2:43:03 GMT -6
and big pharmaceutical control/demand...weed helps with so many things big pharms would lose...
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Post by lostineternity99 on Apr 19, 2019 5:51:46 GMT -6
Good post Foxy and ... you are right, Mike ... big pharma is afraid of cannabis oil and its many health benefits.
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Post by QueenFoxy on Apr 19, 2019 11:13:30 GMT -6
i think it wil soon be legalized all over the US.
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Post by Catlady2710 on Apr 19, 2019 13:52:20 GMT -6
Great post Foxy - and yes, Michael, you are right. Big pharmacies would lose big-time and I foresee a large fight coming, not only in the States but in Canada as well, even though it is supposedly legal in Canada.
They made it legal here in Canada, (but only by degrees so far) which each province being responsible in how they will regulate it within their own province.
Here in Ontario, instead of people applying for business licenses in the usual way, Ontario set up a lottery where people had to pay a large sum of money just to have their names placed into the lottery. Then, those who were "lucky" enough to have "won" the right to set up shop have to have their stores set up to government standards within a very short time. They had just paid large sums to enter the lottery, and becaise of this, some may not have enough funds to get set up shop in the short period of time allotted, thereby losing monies spent already. Seeing how they already had to spend so much, I think they should have been given more time in order to get things right as the Government rules are strict.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2019 23:22:47 GMT -6
well i'll confess. it's legal here in Washington and is in Vegas too. I smoke a little. not a lot...certainly not a loser wake and bake type but i do a little, helps with my anxiety. I'm responsible with it though and don't do a lot by any means
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Post by Vicky G on Apr 20, 2019 3:03:19 GMT -6
It's not yet legalised here and I am all for legalising it. The benefits of it outweigh the downsides IMO. It would also help reduce the number of "pushers". There is medical evidence that it works on Glaucoma and even some types of cancer. I often wonder if it would help my eye problem too.
The only downside that I worry about is if people get in a car and drive whilst under the influence of it, particularly if they have mixed it with alcohol.
I was offered a plant once (when I worked at the Law Society would you believe) but turned it down because it's easily recognisable and it's a major offence to grow one. A lot of people here who DO grow it grow it in their lofts and have heaters installed. So the police now use heat seeking equipment on their helicopters and go round checking a neighbourhood to see who is growing it. LOL Of course these are people who literally farm it for profit, I doubt the police would spot one plant - but then again, knowing my luck...... !
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Post by susan on Apr 20, 2019 6:37:26 GMT -6
your entire country should legalise it
i have yet to try it, but who knows, someday i might
susan
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Post by QueenFoxy on Apr 20, 2019 10:55:16 GMT -6
We kind of sit where Cat says Canada is and it has been handled in the same way with a lottery to determine who can and cannot grow and sell pot.
I have never tried pot but I have known plenty of people who have and still do. I know they do not plan to give it up. Legalizing it will stop the flow of illegal marijuana crossing the border. That, of course, is no longer our big worry for illegal drugs. The big concern today is opiates.
They might as well legalize and control it .... so they can tax it to high Heaven as they wish to.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2019 2:45:25 GMT -6
I'm not for drugs. I don't consider marijuana a drug though..it's an herb and in my opinion a "natural" gift to us for many things however one wishes to believe in the "Creator." To me it's evil to not provide to people who are suffering from conditions when it has been proven to help
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2019 2:47:00 GMT -6
and ironically alcohol is never a problem though when it is the cause of the majority of problems
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Post by Catlady2710 on Apr 21, 2019 8:58:39 GMT -6
So true Michael. I think the truth of it is that marijuana threatens pharmiceutical companies, whereas booze causes a need for them.
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Post by QueenFoxy on Apr 21, 2019 11:27:06 GMT -6
Lots of states have made it medicinally available with RX that have not yet de-criminalized it. Here'a site you can look at it that clearly shows where each state stands on the subject. disa.com/map-of-marijuana-legality-by-state |
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