History of Marijuana Prohibition

Before the 20th century, the hemp plant and marijuana were widely accepted and used for spiritual and medicinal purposes in many cultures. It has been illegal for less than 1% of the time that it has been in use. Even America once encouraged and allowed the growth of the hemp plant. In fact, a law in 1619 was enacted that required for all farmers in Jamestown to grow this "Indian hemp plant" when there were shortages, and refusal would result in jail time. Even our founding fathers, Including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew and used hemp. The first draft of the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper.

Before it became illegal, the hemp plant was productively used in ways other than smoking, and was a large part of the early American economy. for example, hemp could be used for:

- Paper. Hemp paper is cheaper to produce than wood - based papers, is more environmentally friendly (bleach and other harmful chemicals are not used in the process), it avoids the troubles of deforestation and destruction of millions of acres of forest, and is longer lasting than wood - based papers.

- Fuel. Hemp can be used to produce a non toxic bio-diesel fuel that Henry Ford experimented with. It also is more efficient in producing ethanol than corn and sugar cane.

- Food. Hemp seeds are used to make hemp seed oil, which has better nutritional value then soybean oil.


Why then, with all these benefits was the hemp plant ever made illegal?

Marijuana was made illegal for a few reasons, including false information, ethnocentrism, and selfish economic purposes. Harry J. Aslinger is the man who is commonly credited for making marijuana illegal.

- Ethnocentrism. In the early 1900s, the hemp plant was commonly used in America, but not commonly smoked as marijuana.  It was smoked by Mexicans and Mormons who lived in the West. These two groups were not very much liked at the time and were often discriminated. the dislike for Mexicans in the West grew in particular in the early 1900s, because of America's problem with Pancho Villa and his bandits who caused our government so much trouble. On the East coast and in the Midwest, marijuana was smoked by a number of Jazz musicians. Many members of the wealthy, white upper class hated jazz and the effect that it had on the younger population. They blamed marijuana as the cause for young whites who enjoyed jazz.

Harry Aslinger, as the head of the Bureau of Narcotics said these quotes regarding the dangers of marijuana:

"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."

"Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men."

"...the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races."