California Banning Marijuana

Mexican-Americans. One of the “differences” seized upon during this time was the fact that many Mexicans smoked marijuana and had brought the plant with them, and it was through this that California apparently passed the first state marijuana law, outlawing “preparations of hemp, or loco weed (Guither, 2013) Harry J. Anslinger and William Randolf Hearst greatly aided the widespread criminalization of marijuana. Anslinger saw the opportunity for success that the Bureau of Narcotics (now the DEA) could provide him. He could find the problem and the solution to drug addiction.

In the 1900s, weed had already had relatively long legal history in the United States. Many historians believe the Jamestown settlers were the first to introduce cannabis to the United States in 1611. Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, both grew hemp in the 1700s, which was distributed to drug stores to help cure migraines and menstrual cramps. In the beginning weed was used for recreational purposes, and still is used to aid aliments, some aliments worse than others.

"These new Americans brought with them their native language, culture and customs. One of these customs was the use of cannabis as a medicine and relaxant" (Burnett and Reiman). Americans always knew the plant as "cannabis" but Mexicans referred to it as "marijuana." The term "marijuana" was foreign on United States' soil therefore, it raised suspicion and fear amongst not only Texans but Americans as well. Surprisingly, the herb was never illegal during the time period of the massive immigration. However, it was originally used in Texas for medical reasons, such as arthritis but evolved into substance abuse over the next decade or so. As more immigrants came into American territory, so did marijuana. "In an effort to control and keep tabs on these new citizens, El Paso, TX borrowed a play from San Francisco’s playbook, which had outlawed opium... the idea was to have an excuse to search, detain and deport Mexican immigrants" (Burnett and Reiman). Of course, the drug got into the hands of rich white men and since America is known for their free market economy, money started to be made. This turned into the entrepreneurship we know today as drug dealing. Laws were made to help regulate and control the exchange of marijuana. It became illegal during the 1930's."Twenty-nine states carried restrictions on cannabis by 1931" (Rathge). Eventually that's how the old "Say no to drugs" campaign was

because of the Mexican Revolution. These immigrants brought along a new culture and customs one of them being the use of Marijuana as a medicine and relaxant. Marijuana which had been known as “cannabis” by Americans was not illegal in the U.S. and was in fact commonly used for industrial and medical purposes. Citizens in the Western states were uneasy of the newcomers and with rising tensions in those states it was not a difficult task for the media to take advantage of the citizen’s unease and pit them against the newcomers and their customs. Harry Anslinger, who is considered the father of the war on weed was a prominent figure of prohibition during the time, used the media to demonize marijuana by using racist tactics. He made several racist claims such as, “There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S. 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”(huffpost.com). In succeeding in painting the Mexican immigrants in a bad light, the media also managed to arouse people’s fear towards the unknown effects of Marijuana The outlawing of marijuana would provide authorities with an opportunity to control Mexican immigrants.( Although the prohibition of marijuana was founded on racism one has to wonder if things are really the same today. Facts have continuously managed to show that

The marijuana plant has been around for thousands of years and been utilized by many different cultures far before the US federal government classified it as a schedule one drug. The earliest archeological findings of marijuana was from BCE 6000, showing “evidence of cannabis being used as a food source” (Bienenstock 10). It wasn't until after the Mexican revolution of 1910, that the United States decided to start cracking down on marijuana. After the Mexican revolution, America experienced a flow of immigrants entering into the United States that were seeking refuge from the war. When coming to America, these immigrants not only brought over themselves, but they brought their culture practices and medicines, one happening to be the cannabis

Cannabis dispensaries and medical marijuana licenses have become more and more commonplace in California in recent years. Because recreational use of marijuana is not let legal in the state of California like it is in Colorado, only those who have a medical marijuana license can buy weed legally in The Golden State. Here’s how to obtain a Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC):

Marijuana has a deep history in America, being in the Americas since 1545 when the Spanish brought it over with them. Later, it was again brought over with the English colonists to Jamestown. Here it was used as a large cash crop similar to tobacco and was used as a major source of fiber. Later in the 1890s, a similar plant, hemp, became another large cash crop in the southern half of the US even replacing cotton. Around this time marijuana was also used in medications, although it was not on the scale of cocaine and opium, being used to treat everything from labor pains to rheumatism, “any disorder of the extremities or back, characterized by pain and stiffness” (The Definition of Rheumatism). Further on, in the 1920s marijuana became increasingly more popular with jazz musicians and even special cafes/clubs opening for its use. It was not until the 1930s when a campaign conducted by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics whom labeled marijuana as the harmful “gateway drug” it is seen as today. Though

Before one can begin to explore why marijuana should be made legal, the factors going into the original ban on marijuana must first be known. Since the early 1900’s a great number Mexicans began to move across the border and find a new home in many of the southwestern states. Unfortunately, the American citizens at the time were not very welcoming. They viewed the massive Mexican immigration as a problem that needed to be dealt with. Unlike most Americans, many Mexicans used cannabis as a recreational drug by smoking it. American law makers used marijuana as a way to drive out the Mexican population. Even though at the time scientific research had been completed showing that the drug was not very dangerous, the government blamed the drug for all the negative qualities the American people viewed in the Mexicans. Harry Anslinger, head of the Bureau of Narcotics, began releasing waves of propaganda depicting the drug as extremely dangerous. He claimed that marijuana contributed to insanity, violence, and rebellion. Thousands of newspapers, magazines, and other sources of media depicted

After watching the documentary on how marijuana became illegal I've learned about the prohibition of alcohol and how alcohol was a major thing in America. Once alcohol was banned people started trying drugs such as marijuana as a scapegoat. Though the alcohol ban was later overturned drugs still played a major part in America.

for marijuana. ” In the 1930’s fear of marijuana had spread throughout the country. During the Great Depression, not only fear, but resentment toward the Mexican race which made the American people further shame the drug. This made the public & government concern grow into a pseudo and biased investigation, which linked marijuana to minority or “Racially inferior” under class community. By 1931 twenty-nine states outlawed marijuana making it illegal. In 1932, concern on the rising use of marijuana and the studies linking the drug to crime created pressure for the government to take action. The national government the pressured the states to take action for themselves and adopt the uniform state

Under the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, there was no chemical distinction made between the two substances. Because of this, hemp eventually became illegal when marijuana did. (Williams 4). While industrial hemp has been used for centuries to make rope, clothing, and other materials, it has never been used for smoking due to its lack of THC. Cannabis was used first in about 8000 BC for cloth and textiles, and by 2700 BC it was incorporated into most cultures for fabric, cordage, food and medicine. From 1000 BC to 1883 AD hemp was considered the world largest agricultural crop (Schreiber 159). Hemp didn't just have its roots in other cultures either; it has been used in America for a very long time. The first recorded hemp plot in North America was planted in 1606 by a French botanist named Louis Hebert (Jenkins 1). From the early 1600's to 1859 hempseed oil was the most used lamp oil in the world. In early America, most colonies enacted "must grow" laws that made it illegal for farmers not to grow hemp. The first U.S. flag was sewn with hemp fabric in 1777 (Schreiber 161). Famous people such as Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington were avid hemp farmers. George Washington was once quoted saying, "Make the most of the Indian hemp seed and sow it everywhere." Back then, hemp was recognized as a versatile crop, yet today, with other countries allowing the production of hemp, the U.S. still considers this

The criminalization of marijuana started in the early 1900’s when after the Mexican revolution many Mexicans moved into America and they needed a reason to start arresting Mexicans. They claimed that marijuana made “men of color aggressive”. Harry Anslinger said “Its more dangerous than heroin or cocaine”. Anslinger claimed that marijuana “Leads to pacifism and communist brain washing”.

In 1930 a man by the name of Harry Anslinger was appointed as the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics later known as the DEA. Harry was in a weak position as he was controlling a position that only dealt with heroin and cocaine which were used by only a small percent of the American population since it was first banned in 1914, so Anslinger declared that he would rid the US of all drugs including marijuana. The question is how did he justify marijuana as a drug. Well Harry claimed that it controlled the minds of youth until it led them down a trail of mental illness, criminality and murder. In fact when he was convincing congress to ban the drug he contacted 30 scientist to give there opinion, 29

Marijuana use in the United States can be dated back to the 17th century. At this time farmers were encouraged to grow marijuana or hemp at the time for the plant weaving capabilities(PBS). The plan has been known for its use to make ropes, clothing, or even paper from it. It was not until after the Civil War that the domestic production of marijuana increase which may also have lead to the plant becoming a popular ingredient and many medicinal products at the time(PBS). Before the 1930s marijuana had been legal and used in medicinal products. In the early 1900s the Mexican revolution came and went and as the 1930s approach, the southern and southwestern parts of

The history of marijuana is consistent through the 1960's, as it was a prohibited drug and those found in possession or selling it would be arrested (Caulkins 23). This would change in the 1970's where twelve states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and South Dakota) would remove or reduce the penalties for possessing marijuana (Caulkins 24). This seemingly sudden period of liberalization is partially due to the war on drugs, which contrary to its purpose, actually helped convince these states to at least partially decriminalize marijuana thanks