by Able Morley

Created on: March 19, 2009

How racism killed our Buzz.

I have started to notice a growing trend in America. And that is Medical Marijuana legislation, and Compassionate use laws. I will not insult your intelligence and engage in the banter often used on this subject. Instead I urge you to research the laws and come to your own conclusions. Please research the history of how Marijuana Prohibition came about. I have, and I assure you it is a ridiculous story of lies, racism, and fear tactics used by a power hungry bigot named Harry J. Anslinger. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and I am sure he had the best intentions for humanity. And he obviously had the power, but he did not have the right. As we know today Marijuana is not capable of causing the dementia, or loss of cognitive function as was portrayed by his horrific accounts. Also, when Marijuana was included in the original laws it was countered by a Dr. Woodward from the AMA. After his testimony, Congress was told in another meeting that he agreed with Ansliger when in fact he had not. These are matters of public record. Mr. Anslinger has numerous racist remarks attributed to his stance on Marijuana, some of those I've listed here:

"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."

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

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

It was his hatred towards minorities that led the way to prohibition. Not scientific fact or evidence. In fact it was that hatred, and his partnerships with industrialists that led to Hemp being included within the law. Hemp has no drug value. But it was in direct competition with foresting industries that sold their scraps for paper production. It was hemp that was in direct competition with DuPont's synthetic fibers including Nylon. That alone has potentially cost kept hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue from our farming states. One of Mr. Anslinger's supporters was a Mr. William Randolph Hearst. Mr. Hearst was the owner of a large chain of newspapers. Mr. Hearst was also heavily invested in the logging industry to help supply the paper for his company. The news that Mr. Anslinger fed to him from his notorious and racist "Gore Files" helped to sell millions of papers

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