by Richard Griffin

Created on: January 31, 2007   Last Updated: April 19, 2007

Marijuana was not only legal in this country until 1937, with the implantation of the Marijuana Tax Act making it illegal, but there was a law in Jamestown Colony since the early 1600's ordering farmers to grow Indian hemp seed, a type of marijuana.

Many who have not tried marijuana make judgments on this innocent, naturally occurring plant. Many claim it is immoral to use this helpful herb. The morality usually comes from the right wing God fearing folk. Didn't God create all plants? For what purpose would God create an evil plant? No, this plant is not evil or immoral; it was a politician that made it immoral and illegal.

Marijuana is an ancient plant that has been used for various building, religious and medicinal purposes. Archeological sites in China have discovered hemp rope dating back to 4000 BC. Hemp has been used for rope, clothing and paper though out history. Many of the early US legal documents such as the Declaration of Independence were written on hemp paper. Many tribal cultures still use marijuana in religious ceremonies because they feel the euphoric effect brings them closer to the spirit world. Marijuana has been used a medicine to treat many different aliments such as headaches and various neuroses. It has been effectively used as an anesthetic also. Today medical marijuana is used to treat glaucoma and to increase appetite in chemotherapy patients.

Marijuana has legitimate medical uses yet it is illegal. Drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco have no medical uses except to keep doctors in business treating their destructive process. Yet those two more dangerous drugs are legal. There is only one reason for this and it is political.

A man by the name of Harry Anslinger decided to make a job for himself by creating the Drug Enforcement Bureau. This was during the early thirties and marijuana was still legal in the US. This was also during the time of prohibition when alcohol was illegal. It was also during the great depression which brings us to the cause of marijuana's becoming illegal. Harry Anslinger's primary pursuits were chasing down heroin and cocaine. These drudges were not enough of a problem to justify an entire federal bureau. He needed a new evil to chase. In the south western states there was a large illegal Mexican worker population, much like today, which coincidently smoked marijuana. The local US citizens of these south western states resented the Mexicans being there taking jobs that were in short supply because of the depression.

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