A recent trip to Colorado got me thinking about weed, why is it still so demonized? Is it really so damaging it should be illegal? Do the facts even add up compared to other substances such as alcohol or nicotine? When did weed become illegal in the first place? As I did some digging, I came to realize some very interesting, and often never spoken about, history behind reefer madness.
Actually, after the civil war, hemp production expanded significantly, and was used for various products. Marijuana was used in many medicinal ways as well, and was sold openly. In 1906, it became required to label cannabis in all over the counter products, through the Pure Food and Drug Act.
America has constantly been in a state of political and social change. We are perpetually experiencing growing pains when it comes to immigration, and incorporating new populations into the nation. In the early 1900s, there was also a huge influx of immigrants from the west, as well as from Mexico. Mexicans used marijuana recreationally, and its use became associated with this group of people. Overall, its use was a trend in most lower class cultures. Anti-drug advocates made a negative link between these new people and the use of marijuana. The Great Depression and social and economic unrest that it came with only aggravated these existing sentiments. Some research surfaced that linked marijuana to deviant behavior and crime. In 1936, the infamous, “Reefer Madness” film was released, that showed marijuana to be a substance that corrupted youth. In 1937, congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act, which criminalized marijuana and also placed minimum sentencing on possession. Its use was restricted to medical and industrial use. This could be viewed as the beginning of America’s war on drugs.
The hysteria and legalization of marijuana is shown clearly in the large social conservative thought throughout America. Through all modern history into 2017, there is a consistent group that rallies around issues such as drug use, alcohol age limit, abortion rights, and planned parenthood funding. This was the impetus behind the Marijuana Tax Act, and as always, politicians are very tempted to give the people what they want, even if the science is not really there.
Looking at where we are now, the country is slowly but surely falling, state by state, legalizing recreational weed, but stigma is still strong. What is most outrageous is the statistics we’re working with.
On Average, 88,000 people die a year in alcohol related accidents. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable disease in the US - approximately 480,000 die yearly, including secondhand smoke. The big difference here? Alcohol has been a staple in nearly every culture for hundreds of years. Tobacco is a multi-billion dollar business worldwide. In 2016 alone, 258 billion cigarettes were sold. Now, according to all current research, marijuana has caused 0 documented deaths. The dangers of nicotine and alcohol are well known, it is taught that it is ok as long as used in moderation. Why are the statistics backing marijuana usage so easily forgotten? The reasoning for that is-- deep seated stigma.
As early as 1944, the New York Academy of Medicine, released a report stating very basically, “It is important to note that neither the ingestion of marihuana nor the smoking of marihuana cigarettes affects the basic outlook of the individual except in a very few instances and to a very slight degree.” This LaGuardia report came forth with completely contradicting, scientifically backed evidence; only for stricter sentencing to take place in the 1950's. It was proven that marijuana does not create criminal activity in users, but the anti-drug movement steamrolled over it.
The war on drugs has been a strong social and cultural trend for 100 years. Let’s take a step back and look at the real facts, and smoke a joint.
