Native American Drugs In The 1800's

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

The impact of various kinds of substances to cultural groups has historically been precipitated by the significance of particular substances on different cultural groups (Moore, 2010).This is mainly because the long term usage of these substances leads to the integration of the consumption of the substance into the cultural patterns of the given group. One such group that has been affected by the extensive usage of a particular substance is the Native American community. According to the Associated Press (2014, August 28), as noted on the MSNBC website, out of ten deaths among the Native American population, one is Alcohol related. Additionally, the prevalence of Alcohol consumption among the Native American population relates to

“The oldest known written record on cannabis use comes from the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung in 2727 B.C. Ancient Greeks and Romans were also familiar with cannabis, while in the Middle East, use spread throughout the Islamic empire to North Africa. In 1545 cannabis spread to the western hemisphere where Spaniards imported it to Chile for its use as fiber. In North America cannabis, in the form of hemp, was grown on many plantations for use in rope, clothing and paper” (Cannabis + Coca). Marijuana used to be listed in the United States Pharmacopeia from 1850 until 1942 and was prescribed for numerous conditions such as labor pains, nausea, and rheumatism. Increased use of pot as an

Crack cocaine has been popular since the 1970s and mid 1980s. Crack cocaine is not a new drug; this drug is obtained from coca plant which grows mainly in South America. For many years, the native South American Indians chewed its leaves to develop strength and increased energy. By the 1800s, the cocaine was secluded from its leaves and used as a medicinal drug. By the late 1800s, it was used as an anesthetic and to avert surgical hemorrhage. The next century, people recognized crack cocaine an addictive narcotic and its non-medical use of the drug was ended by the Harrison Narcotics Act in 1914 (“How crack cocaine works?”).

Substance abuse is a topic most prefer not to discuss; it destroys lives, relationships and families all over the world. Native Americans seem to have suffered immensely by it. Since the coming of the Englishmen and the introduction of new knowledge and tools Native people have been trying to hold on to their own culture and their own way of life. Unfortunately with them came new items for consumption, alcohol was one of the main ingredients to the internal downfall of Native populations. Native American populations suffer greatly due to the ongoing epidemic of substance abuse and dependence; some things are being done about the problems people are having but in the end will it be enough to heal a nation? To open this paper I will look at

Ancient Aztecs would use alcohol before contact with whit settlers. The usage was only for ceremonial purposes and if they used it other wise, it was forbidden under penalty of death. Peyote used for ceremonial setting to treat chronic alcohol addiction. Later the central part of Native American church would use it for spiritual treatments for chronic alcoholism (Abbott, 2008). Native American elders believe that the loss of traditional culture was related to substance abuse. Those who are closer to non-Native Americans have higher rates of substance use. Abbott (2008) states that the lowest rates are in bicultural individuals who are comfortable with both sets of cultural values.

Even in laws there’s are bias towards people of color, such as example against the usage of drugs. African Americans are more likely to be arrested for drug charges than their counter part middle-class White males’, even if the drug charges offends are the same (or some cases even higher offense than black males). In addition, there even police forces that have engaged in higher usage of drugs, such as crack, yet they are not charged against the law due to their status and authority as a police officer. That is enough evidence that there are hardly any accountability in the police forces. When there are not much accountabilities and consequences, this allows a police officer to abuse their power and potentially act among injustice actions towards

About thirty years into the nearer future, Americans rediscovered marijuana as a result of the notorious alcohol prohibition of the 1920s when “people looking for oblivion from their own troubles turned to a new way of getting high.” Consequently and realistically, America can only blame itself for marijuana’s recreational popularity, seeing as “from 1850 to 1945, the … plant was listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia.” Almost a decade after the alcohol prohibition ended is when marijuana was first perceived “as a dangerous, addictive, ‘gateway drug’” by the United States Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Then, “in 1970, the Controlled Substances Act was passed … [which] classified marijuana, [alongside Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)] and heroin, as a Schedule I drug, meaning that [the drug] had a high risk of abuse [with] no acceptable medicinal use.” Within the following decade, “marijuana use in the United States declined,” then once again escalating among youth in the nineties. Meanwhile in modern-day India, people are still practicing marijuana medicinally, and exploring what advantages the “dangerous” drug has to offer (Chapter 2: The History of Marijuana 18-31).

Native Americans living on a modern day society reservation, face is always living on that reservation, no hopes for their future and these obstacles lead to one big issue of alcoholism. Junior faces plenty of loss caused from alcohol, and they’re within months of each other. Junior thinking about his grandmother, “But my grandmother had never drunk alcohol in her life. Not one drop. That’s the rarest kind of Indian in the world,” (158). Junior and his parents lost Grandmother Spirit; Eugene, his father’s friend, and Mary, his sister due to someone making the decision to drink and make choices while they’re under the influence. When Junior and the Reardan team wins against Wellpinit, Junior realizes the differences between both teams. “Okay,

Ever since the adoption of drugs being dangerous for our society, the acceptance of people have fluctuated. At the being of the 70’s and 80’s people would not allow or accept the usage of Marijuana. But the drug would only increase in popularity and surround youngster and celebrities at the time. Celebrities such as John Lennon, known worldwide consumed Marijuana. Putting the blame on this lead singer from The Beetles for popularizing the drug, Federal agents tried to take them down with home raids and privacy invasion. During the 70’s this occurred more than often as the Drug Policies were strict and government officials were trying to keep a hard hand on those whom were seen with any drugs. Another Celebrity that was portrayed the popularization

While some cultures are more accepting of drugs like Ayahuasca referring to it as “vine of the souls” and others establish the use of Psychedelic Iboga (West-Central Africa) America is not this privileged. The American lifestyle tends to be very fast paced in the cities where drugs like marijuana, coffee, and cocaine act like an epidemic amongst the younger crowd. Studies have found these drugs affect an individual’s physiology by replicating and stimulating the body's natural nervous system functions.

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.

The article “Late Quing Perceptions of Native Opium” was written by Lin, Man-Houng. The author’s academic credentials include graduating from Harvard and acquiring her Ph.D in History and East Asian Languages. Man-Houng was a Senior Research Fellow at the Academia Historica in Taiwan, later becoming the first woman to serve as president of the institute (SOAS). The journal article was published January 1, 2004 within the “Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies Vol. 64”, which is a semi-annual publication consisting of research and reviews from accredited professionals on the humanities of Asia (Howell). The intended audience for the article consists of a compilation of HJAS members inclusive of Researchers, Historians, Professors and Scholars analyzing the history of Asian studies.

As mentioned before, a case, Employment Division, Department of Human Resources of Oregon v. Smith, came before the Supreme Court regarding the Native American use of peyote in religious ceremonies. Oregon has a law banning the use of controlled substances

Marijuana has been used as a mediator for attaining ecstasy since ancient times. In 1545 the Spanish introduced marijuana to the New World. In 1611, it became a major crop, along with tobacco. It was in the 1920's that marijuana became very popular. Marijuana clubs, called tea pads, were built in city. These marijuana places were tolerated by the authorities because marijuana was not illegal and customers showed no evidence of disturbing the community. Marijuana was not considered a social threat. After over a decade of decreasing use, marijuana smoking began an upward trend once more in the early 1990s, especially among teenagers. (History of Marijuana)