Marijuana was made illegal becuase americans didn't want mexicans coming and taking there jobs in 1910?

Question

When a big migration of immigrants from mexico came to the US the government didnt agree with there "stealing of the citizens jobs" they said mexicans where a degenerate race on a evil drug called marijuana. Isnt that ridiculas that our government is that racial. I think so whats your opinion? Why do we have these racial laws, if you look at it, thats what the law is based on lies against mexicans coming to our country. Harry J. Anslinger is one of the main culprits in the scheme back in the 1930's. The marijuana tax act of 1937 had no medical references to the drug just articles made up of yellow journalism proclaiming Anslinger's lies and congress believed them, but why aren't we changing the law, who knows our government must just respect racist mofo's i think its ridiculus.

Answer 1

I haven't heard this. It was made illegal in the mid-30's by the liquor lobby lying to the Government about the dangers of this horribly addicting, evil drug. I hope my sarcasm came out there. It's far less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, which are legal.

Answer 2

I don't like illegal immigration either. But they aren't all Mexicans. They also come from Central and South America. Even some Asian people come across the southern border. There are some jobs Americans would do at a good salary. Don't listen to the BS that Americans won't do the work! Construction work, carpentry and plumbing. I have friends who did these jobs in the past but have been driven out of business. Illegal immigration has driven the wage of these jobs way down, so Americans can't compete. I myself used to mow lawns when I was a kid. But American kids can't even to this anymore because there are so many landscaping companies around who hire illegals. I also worked at a fast food restaurant when I was going through trade school. I doubt many Americans would pick crops. I say make prisoners go out in the field and pick crops. I mean they're being punished right? I bet if criminals knew they would be made to do hard work in prison they might think twice about committing crimes. I read a story the other day that illegal immigration is actually slowing down right now. Even illegal immigrants are having a hard time finding jobs. Some are even returning home.

Answer 3

To answer the above theories about the origins of the law, there were two major reasons for the early marijuana laws.

In the southwestern states it was racial prejudice against Mexicans. In the northeastern states it was largely the fear that heroin addiction would lead to the use of marijuana.

The theory that Hearst and Dupont conspired to outlaw hemp, and therefore marijuana, was advanced by Jack Herer in The Emperor Wears No Clothes. While I love and admire Jack, and think he did a wonderful job of education, I disagree with him about this conspiracy theory. One of the major reasons is that hemp was a very minor crop at the time and there were significant difficulties in harvesting the crop and finding a place to sell it. There was no reason for anyone like the DuPonts -- who made their fortunes from explosives, anyway -- would think that hemp was a threat to their empire. Even if hemp was more successful there would still be a huge market for synthetic fibers like rayon and nylon.

You can find a further discussion of why the conspiracy was unlikely at http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/hemp_conspiracy.htm

As for the connections to the alcohol and/opr tobacco industry and other theories, the real story is far more interesting -- and silly -- than that. If you hold one of those theories then you missed all the really hilarious parts of the story.

The definitive site on the subject is http://druglibrary.org/schaffer It contains thousands of original historical documents on the subject.

You can find a good short summary of why the first marijuana laws were passed at http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/mj_outlawed.htm

You can find an entertaining history of the marijuana laws at http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/whiteb1.htm

You can find the first legal history of the marijuana laws at http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/LIBRARY/studies/vlr/vlrtoc.htm

You can find a good collection of Reefer Madness articles, comic books, and other things at http://druglibrary.org/mags/reefermadness.htm

You can find even more full histories, historical documents, and other information at http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/HISTORY.HTM

You can find the full text of the transcripts for the congressional hearings for the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 at http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/taxact.htm

Some notable points in Anslinger's testimony:

1) He presents information that marijuana must be outlawed because of its effect on the "degenerate races".

2) He is asked specifically if there is any connection between marijuana and heroin. He replies specifically that there is no connection at all -- they are used by two different classes of people who do not associate with each other.

Answer 4

I agree!! I am sure you know it was the same thing with the Asians and opium. It is ridiculous to think that racism isnt alive and well today.

I just did a research that race and poverty go hand and hand. Before I did the paper, I would have disagreed. Maybe because I am white. Being in West Texas I see alot of racism and discrimination from all angles. This has been the first time I have ever been discriminated against because I am white. Now I know how it feels, up close and personal. Something I would have never known being from the North.

Answer 5

From my understanding, Marijuana was criminialized in an attempt to get hemp banned. William Randolph Hearst (inspiration for the movie Citizen Cane) and Lamont Dupont (paint guy) had investments in a type of paper stock that was used to run hearst's newspapers. When hemp (a distant cousin of marijuana) was discovered to be less expensive, articles were run about the dangers of "canibis" effectively banning both substances in the 1937 tax act (hemp has since be relegalized). Unfortunatly this was a racist time in American history and it was made out to be a drug used in black jazz clubs, as well as a product of mexican immigrants. This slander was one of many lies told about the drug initially to ensure its criminialization, including things like it causing rape and murder.

Answer 6

It was actually a prescribed drug in the early 1900's and has been around since before Christ was born.But you are right,the law was a racially intended law that said there was no medical use for it-then why the prescribed weed befor it? In some states backin the 1800's you could actually go to jail for not growing POT! Whish I was born then so people will quit telling me I have a problem.George Washington{1stPresident} grew "hemp"...he wrote the constitution high I bet!

Answer 7

If you look at the drug policies, and the penalties, I think it's true. Marijuana is grouped in a class of drugs that contain heroine and other hard core opiates. Don't you think that's kind of strange? If you look at the list of illegal drugs and how they're classified, marijuana really sticks out from the list because it seems so out of place. The only explaination I can see is that there was a political agenda for keeping marijuana next to heroine.

There are plenty of laws that keep the rich rich, the poor even poorer, the classes divided, the races divided, and the masses stupid. Open your eyes. It's been like this ever since Columbus landed in 1492.

Answer 8

marijuana has been around for years. It was used in tow ropes In the 1800s. It was called HEMP then.I don't recall it being made illegal just because Mexicans smoked it. Native Americans smoked something like it. It was made illegal because it had no medical affect then or now. I have tried it & I got a better high on beer.I have allkinds of ailments including heart diesease.A ll that will do is make me forget my pain.

Answer 9

Actually it was because of the cotton lobby. Hemp was considered a threat to industries in the South.

Answer 10

Give the one person a prize for saying the Cotton Industry.

Eli Whitney and the Cotton--------Gin