Criminalization of MarijuanaWill Burton

Background

Originally used as hemp Originated from Central Asia and brought to America Crop that was used in clothes, building materials,

plastics, fuel, etc. Jamestown 1619, required by law for farmers to

grow

Now is used medically and recreationally across the world

Presidency of Herbert Hoover

President from 1929-1933

Held million dollar enterprises with Andrew Mellon (Secretary of Treasury) and Harry Anslinger ( nephew and the head of Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs)

Saw hemp as a threat

Mexican slang term “marihuana” pushed into society and public started to take notice

Yellow Journalism

type of journalism that presents little to no legitimate research and is based upon catchy titles

Harry J. Anslinger

Head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs

Anslinger recognized that opiates and cocaine wouldn’t be enough to build legacy

Targeted marijuana to criminalize it at the federal level

Used racism and violence to turn public against the problem he was to create

Statements

“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.”

“Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.”

“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

Propaganda film designed to continue to create an enemy of marijuana to society

Shows how marijuana supposedly makes you go into madness, be violent, and just about anything else you can imagine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM_vLk1I6G4

Public Opinion

Throughout 1900’s the opinion on marijuana came from information provided by the government

Reagan speech Regarding medical disadvantages of marijuana “the most reliable scientific sources say permanent

brain damage is one of the inevitable results of the uses of marijuana”

Based study on Heath/Tulane University Study of 1974 which studies the affects of carbon monoxide poisoning Pumped monkeys with the equivalent of 63 joints in

five minutes

Prohibitive Marihuana Tax Law

April 14, 1937

Outlawed hemp

Brought before the House Ways and Means Committee

Dr. James Woodward attempted to stop law and testify on behalf of American Medical Association Stated that it was unclear that marihuana and

hemp were of the same strain

In September of 1937 hemp prohibition began

Reflection

Surprised by how much the public opinion was affected

Realized how the time era may have affected the criminalization from lack of information