A brief history lesson on Pot and the War on Drugs

[Joanne98]

The "War on Drugs" – a phrase first used in 1971 by President Nixon – began during the turbulent socio-political upheaval surrounding hippies, anti-war protests and the counterculture. But the vilification of "the evil weed" began much earlier than that.

In 1937, media mogul William Randolph Hearst, Lammont DuPont (of ‘Chemicals’ fame) and other established industrialists were perturbed that the crop hemp – a cousin to cannabis, but not used to get high – was so amazingly versatile, with myriad uses over a vast number of industries, from a paper substitute (Hearst’s biggest concern), to clothing, to rope, to uses for hemp oil (for an interesting visual on a sample of things that are currently made from or with hemp, visit http://www.jackherer.com/hemp%20things.htm ).

"Hemp is a historical plant," said Matt Simon, Executive Director of the NH Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy. "Calistoga wagons were made from hemp. Old Ironsides’ sails were made of hemp. George Washington even told people to ‘Make the most of the Indian hemp seed, sow it everywhere.’ "

Hearst and Henry Anslinger, head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, had their motivations colored by distinct racism, specifically towards Mexicans, who came to America and were, they felt, threatening to take jobs away from U.S. citizens. In fact, the men were the first to introduce the word "marihuana" into the public’s mind, using the Mexican’s word for cannabis. "It’s much like the racism tying other drugs to other minorities," Simon points out. "These were ‘drug-crazed Mexicans and Negroes’ who would ‘attack our women’ while high, just like the Chinese were portrayed as dangerous with opium."

Hemp made a brief resurgence during World War II after Japan cut off supplies for raw fibers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the short film "Hemp For Victory," encouraging all farmers to grow hemp for the war effort. However, it went back to its illegal standing after the war.

-- Kathleen Palmer

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090211/NEWS01/902119995/-1/XML15

[sui generis]

1. Reefer Madness

I especially liked the soundtrack.

Alas, anything that makes you "feel good" must be bad, unless it's church three times a week and babble study on Tuesdays and Saturday. . .

:sarcasm:

[grannie4peace]

2. reagan declared war on the hippies when he was the

governator of calif. i remember it in the greatest detail as if it were yesterday . i think that was before nixon was pres. it was .... they were afraid that people would not support the establishment if we were allowed to think for themselves which is what some drugs help you do :):):) it was a bad time in our culture!

[flakey_foont]

3. Reagan's infamous quip about hippies

someone with dresses like Tarzan, has hair like Jane and smells like Cheetah....

said when he was Gov of California....

[Hello_Kitty]

4. Sadly, there are people on DU who believe the Reefer Madness propaganda. eom

[grannie4peace]

6. most of the people i've talked with don't believe it...

but i mostly only talk to the smart ones:):) hee-hee.... at least that's what i believe :):)

[navarth]

7. Sad but true. Disappointing. eom

[Bluenorthwest]

11. That is why this information is so important

Sometimes when people understand the history, they are not so comfy promoting the lies. The racist and sexist lies, to be specific.

[navarth]

5. K & R

[Peace Patriot]

8. The "war on drugs" is the U.S. military's backup plan to continue war profiteering

between wars. Did you see the other day that the Pentagon announced now they're going to eradicate the poppy crop in Afghanistan. They're using the "war on drugs" to justify their staying in Afghanistan and bombing civilians every other day for target practice. The irony is that the Taliban had shut down the heroin trade. It took the U.S. military to open it back up again, full bore.

War is a racket. The "war on drugs" is an even worse racket because it parades as a benefit.

I think it's funny, though (if it weren't so murderous, and hell on earth for the victims) that the U.S. military has tolerated the heroin trade in Afghanistan for seven years, and NOW they're going after it?!

:rofl: :cry: :rofl: :cry: :rofl: :cry: :cry: :cry:

:grouphug:

[catnhatnh]

9. Stupid mistake in main body of the article...

I e-mailed the newspaper:

Ms. Parker misspoke. The reference should have been to a "conestoga wagon", which can be confirmed by googling "conestoga wagon hemp"-the first 3 sites will confirm this. Conversely googling "calistoga wagon" receives 1 exact hit which links to wikipedia and an article on the construction of the California highway system. The match refers to a photo of a buckboard wagon and a graphic showing Calistoga California being linked to the system in 1919.

And oh-the wagon was not "made from hemp"-the cover was.

[Fly by night]

10. Here's another Anslinger quote which underscroes the racist underpinnings of the war on (some) drugs

Harry Anslinger, the first Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics:

"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US," Anslinger warned when he lobbied Congress for pot prohibition in the 1930's, "and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others."

Anslinger's racist attacks prompted Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia to appoint the first commission in America to investigate cannabis. After a five-year study, the Commission concluded marijuana did not represent a threat to public safety, findings confirmed by every subsequent investigation.