Marijuana

Marijuana is one of the oldest, most versatile, most historically significant plants in the history of man. Commonly referred to as hemp, it was the fiber used to create the sails of the conquistadors until steam power ruled the ocean blue. Hemp was universally known and clothed a lot the known world, even before cotton and wool. Its versatility was a virtue and was envied as one of the most valuable plants for any farmer, on any continent. Legislators in many different states across America passed laws promoting its production. In colonial times, the military wanted to make sure it had enough hemp rope for times of war and as a source of revenue for the colonies. In 1767, the Georgia government passed a law which distributed seeds to the farmers and directions on how to cultivate the marijuana crop (Hopkins 5). With such dedication to marijuana since almost the beginning of recorded history, it’s a wonder now that the hemp crop became associated with the darkest and scariest parts of drug abuse. Surely if George Washington and Thomas Jefferson knew how severely its impact would have on America, maybe it wouldn’t have been the supreme crop of their plantations (Guither). The common perception of marijuana is clouded by years and years of misinformation, racism, and political agendas. All of these factors contribute negatively to the image of hemp and should not be accepted as common thought in America. Americans need to do their own research before accepting the views based on many years of misinformation and propaganda.

No one can deny that marijuana has an altering affect on the brain, and it can significantly slow down one’s consciousness. Anyone using it should understand at least that much. Many do not know what to dislike about the drug other than the government’s imposed repercussions that an individual can face if involved with it. Most of America’s knowledge about the drug is based off of scare tactics, propaganda, and yellow journalism from an era that is long since gone. Its reputation has been smashed to pieces to promote politicians, and a politician would commit career suicide if they were to promote its legalization. One of the most vicious politicians that targeted marijuana was Harry Anslinger. In 1930, Anslinger headed the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. As the leader of this government run organization, his department was originally conceived to support the governments stance on alcohol prohibition. Alcohol, deemed to have narcotic like effects, was legal, but wasn’t demonized for its effects on the mind. In 1933, the 21st amendment, which forbade the use and production of alcohol, was repealed, and Anslinger needed to focus his Bureau in another direction (Guither).

So, the government turned their head to the south. The Mexican immigrants snatched up all the jobs in the west people hesitated to do, but that did not come without a few set backs. Because of the lack of jobs during the depression and Mexicans holding many of these positions, whites were intimidated and racist ideas came to fruition. When the Hispanics came across the border, they brought with them a different type of hemp, a hemp with a weaker stalk, but produced wore flowers and resin. Grown traditionally in America, the THC content (THC is the substance secreted by the plants to protect the plant from sunlight, which also causes the user to “trip.” The hotter the environment, the more THC produced) is low and was grown more for its stalk and fiber. The new Mexican weed was from a more arid climate, and the plants were stronger hallucinogens than those of North American descent. Anslinger wanted to be remembered for doing something with his office. Anslinger chose to target marijuana and he used scare tactics and racism to make his point, so that his words would be remembered many years after his death. These days it would be blasphemous in congress to use such ways of persuasion, but it was the only way to stir up the heart of America and give marijuana a bad image. In numerous speeches and reports to congress, he would give statements like, “"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" (Guither). He singled out almost all the minorities in America and appealed to the conservative whites of the time, who were battling the Depression, and worried more about feeding their families than a drug they hardly knew existed. But, his comments didn’t stop there, he elaborated even more with disturbing slurs; “"Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men. Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing" (Guither). If the trials were going on today for the prohibition of marijuana and these words were uttered, the lawyer, witness, or professional would immediately lose credibility. Anslinger manipulated the government and the will of the people to do whatever he wanted, all so he could leave a legacy after he was dead and buried.

It did not stop with Anslinger. One of the most influential people in the world also was on the side against marijuana and hemp production: William Randolph Hearst. He was world renowned and owned the largest chain of newspapers in North America. Hearst had nothing but his own personal gain in mind when he jumped on this bandwagon. The expert propagandist invested in a tree farm and didn’t want hemp paper production to hamper his wood pulp profits. Hearst also lost over 800,000 acres of prime woodland to Pancho Villa, a Mexican. So, he may have been a little sore towards the Mexicans and their marijuana which was sweeping the country. Using his unbelievable ability to reach citizens with his newspapers,