This essay is about the illegal prohibition of marijuana

Essay by 12ollin12ushUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, June 2006

download word file, 3 pages 5.0

The Scandalum Magnatum Of Marijuana

In the first 12,000 years, Marihuana has benefited civilizations across the globe. Chinese people used the plant's hemp fibers for making clothes, shoes, weapons, writing paper, and its intoxicating properties when conducting surgeries. The Japanese use it in many religious events and celebrations. By law, early American colonial farmers were ordered to grow hemp to be used as ropes and sails on ships.[1] In the 1700's, Hemp was the primary crop grown by George Washington at Mount Vernon, and a secondary crop grown by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. Marihuana has contributed in helping many civilizations survive; however, when spreading root in American, people of law and power used any means of defamation and falsity to eradicate the drug using the Anti Marijuana Act. The laws banning Marijuana were harvested from racist high power officials who constantly lost their own personal wars in America.

Harry Anslinger was a ruthless racist who recognized he could have a career opportunity with the Bureau of Narcotics.

He figured since the agency was new that he could create a problem and a solution. In 1914, cocaine and opiates were illegal; Anslinger knew the two drugs would not be enough to push his agency so he latched on Marijuana and started making it illegal at a federal level. To receive national attention, Harry used dubious conceives towards racism and violence that pointed at marijuana. A racist quote from Anslinger stated, "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." Along with racist allegations, Harry threw in quotes like, "Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of...