MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana should be legal. Not just for industrial purposes, not just for medical purposes, but 100% legal in all of its forms. Why? Well before we examine why marijuana should become lawful, we must first understand why marijuana became illegal.

Many persons suppose that marijuana was made illicit through some kind of method involving scientific, health, and government hearings; that it was to defend the citizens from what was determined to be an unsafe drug. Instead, it seems the reason for the criminalization of marijuana had more to do with racism, ignorance, religion, fear and personal profit than it do any statistics or facts… everything our government should stand against. Cannabis has been as big a part of the U.S. history as farming itself. In the fact, the first law pertaining to cannabis in the US was a law in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 actually ordering all farmers to grow the substance (Booth, Martin, 2005: pg. 27).

In the early 1900's, however, a flood of Mexican immigrants alarmed state officials. With them, the Mexicans brought a “demon weed” known as marijuana. However, the first State to outlaw marijuana didn't do so because of the Mexicans, but actually because of its use by Mormons. The very religious state of Utah saw this as a problem and subsequently outlawed it (Booth, Martin, 2005: pg.28). Many other states would soon follow but for their own prejudiced reasons (Mostly against the Mexican population). Soon enough, in the 1930's the United States federal government took notice. With the establishment of the Bureau of Narcotics and its very racist leader Harry J. Anslinger, the propaganda machine was turned to full power.

Anslinger conceived a coalition with American bulletin magnate William Randolph Hearst, and simultaneously sparked most of the misconceptions of the 'reefer madness' era. Thanks to ...