NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
In high school when I first learned about the alluring world of illegal pharmaceuticals, I was scared. My fear was based on all my prior knowledge of drugs was from government propaganda and popular beliefs. Now Im older, and more experienced about drugs. When did the America first begin to be wildly afraid of a plant that has been on this continent since our forefathers ()? Americas fear of illicit drugs can be as far traced back as the prohibition era of the early 20 th century. Pot, a nickname for the plant, is still illegal due in part to the bias government drug enforcement forces of the nineteen thirties and forties.
Past propaganda and seeds of ignorance about marijuana still grow today in American. Marijuana has been used responsibly by cultures dated as far back as 3000 BC China (Jones, 2003). So how have Americans been brainwashed to believe marijuana is different than any other storable plant? The earliest harvesting of marijuana specifically for smoking, or getting stoned, was by the Scythians from Siberia around 700 BC.
Surely Marijuana has had a long history of medical used by the human race (Jones, 2003). Rastafarians base most of their key beliefs around the herb. The divinity of marijuana is central to their religious beliefs. Indian cultures have been smoking marijuana for a varieties of ways for thousands of years.
Hinduism has a long tradition with marijuana use, having ancient prayers claiming that pot is a sacred herb. Of major world religions only Christianity has been a party pooper by consistently denying the divinity of weed (Jones, 2003). The Spanish Inquisition of the 12 th century banned marijuana labeling it the work of the devil. Since that ancient papal decree, Christians have looked upon marijuana as a demon herb, with no medical use. This may have been one of the earliest attempts at marijuana prohibition.
Americas history with marijuana began around 1914 when it became popular among Hispanics of El Paso and New Orleans (Jones, 2003). Around this time Americans were still angry from the Spanish-American War. A media campaign against Hispanics was launched by the government. Stories usually told of Hispanics all doped out committing vicious violent crimes. The publics attitude toward marijuana in the twenties is described as, they believed it was a sexual stimulant and lowered societal inhibitions. (Musto, 2003) The marijuana was blamed in part to explain Hispanics supposed violent behavior. Such accounts were fictionalized stories by the papers.
The writers produced these tales specifically to illicit fear in the American public. This example of destructive propaganda clearly associates the fear of minorities and violent criminal behavior with no evidence. People of the time considered the government and newspapers credible sources of information. Little did they know that marijuana was a developing target for the government, as well as alcohol prohibitionist of the time. The first real figure head against marijuana was Harry Anslinger. He was appointed to the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in 1931 and began a 30 year war on pot (Jones, 2003).
The FBN began to increase circulation of marijuana scare stories in the papers upon his command. Harry's wealth and social stature were more to credit for his current position. He would go on to set the future tone of the government with relation to marijuana. He is quoted saying outrageous things dating back to 1929.
For example, Reefer makes darkies think theyre as good as white men. (reefer madness. org) How could such an ignorant man be the basis of our governments long battle against marijuana? He continues to say in 1938 In some districts inhabited by Latin Americans, Filipinos, Spaniards and Negroes, HALF THE CRIMES are attributed to the marijuana craze! (reefer madness. org) This degree of racism would currently never be tolerated of such a high ranking government official. Clearly Anslinger had a long term goal, his later comments come almost nine years after he was appointed. His public stature coupled, face of authority, and long tenure all contributed to Aslinger's influence on marijuana in America.
Anslinger was viewed as an expert of the times by the people. Anslinger used the minorities of the time as a scapegoat. He claimed non whites smoked weed and thus as a result become violent criminals. The government was supposedly the first place citizens could turn for information. Instead the deadly seed of misinformation took hold on American soil. Taking his words literally one must assume Anslinger knows nothing factual about the plant.
Anslinger stated in 1938, The Narcotics Section recognizes the great danger of marijuana due to its definite impairment of mentality and the fact that its continued use leads direct to the insane asylum. Nothing short of prohibition would have been satisfactory for Anslinger. He had formally worked on a commission effectively promoting alcohol prohibition (Musto, 1999). Anslinger took the same approach to narcotics as he did with alcohol, zero tolerance.
The fight over marijuana in America is more political than medical or legal. Proof of Anslinger's overall impact on public opinion can be seen in current times. Since the 1972 Nixon's National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse, recommended that Congress adopt this decriminalization with regard to marijuana. Since then, more than a dozen government-appointed commissions have all agreed to similar actions (NORML.
com). The problem at heart lies in our politicians. Based on public pressure most politicians have not yet stood up for the scientific use of marijuana. But if the people do not want marijuana, how come ten states have decriminalized possession of small amounts. There is a rift between the public and their representatives concerning marijuana. According to the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy massive drug raid proves drug laws are doing more harm than goodbye group includes psychologists, pharmacologists, lawyers, health policy advocates and public policy researchers (NORML.
com). web This statement is an example of the current propaganda against marijuana spread by the government. These statements are viewed now as gross exaggerations of the mildly intoxicating effects of marijuana. Early efforts to criminalize weed were suspicious since; Anslinger took pains to ensure that any groups and / or individuals that might have resisted the passing of the Act were either informed late (or not at all) that the hearings were even taking place they would likely have argued the medicinal benefits of marijuana. Their representative, Dr. William Woodward, denounced the hearings as being rooted in tabloid sensationalism, and demanded an explanation for the secrecy involved. (reefer madness.
org) How could such a plant that has been tried by at least one third of current Americans lead to such insanity? If Anslinger was correct in his assessments about the virtue of weed, than many current Americans would be considered stark raving mad. The medical community has been kept out of the law making process for some while after these early efforts. How come professionals around the world have not been listened to by our government.
Most people in government do not think there is anything wrong with the current marijuana laws. People have been traditionally skeptical tom actively protest for illegal substances. The taboos surrounding illicit drugs from the twenties have followed later generations. Still most users are looked at with scorn and disgust by the public.
Americans still discriminate against marijuana. Compare marijuana with the other three largest used drugs on the planet it ranks low in risk. There is a consensus thatthe drug [marijuana] cannot compare with either alcohol or nicotine in addictive capacity or in ability to do serious damage to the human body (Schroeder, ? ? ? ? ). So why then is marijuana illegal? Scientific studies have proven, fewer than one in 10 marijuana smokers become regular users of the drug 15 percent of alcohol consumers and 32 percent of tobacco smokers exhibit symptoms of drug dependence. Why would Americans demand highly addictive substances, for example nicotine and alcohol, to be readily available on every street corner?
Yet, still keep a plant like marijuana in the shadows of acceptable mainstream society? This in tern drives drug prices higher, simply causing users to pay more. When demand goes for marijuana, The American government has had a long history of using propaganda to mislead people the dangers of marijuana. One famous 1937 article entitled Assassin of the Youth depicts one stoned teen as: Victor had smoked some marihuana cigarettes that afternoon. After going to bed that night, he suddenly though, as nightmarish hallucinations raced t...
Free research essays on topics related to: illicit drugs, reefer madness, anslinger, long history, marijuana
Research essay sample on Reefer Madness Illicit Drugs
