Marijuana: The Truth

When mentioning Marijuana, I am sure the first thing to come to your mind is an image of Bob Marley.  Perhaps for those of you in older generations it is Cheech and Chong.  Still others might think about a lazy, slow-thinking, and despicable criminal.  This final example is the most intriguing and will be the topic for my article.

Marijuana use has been found in almost every ancient society.  It can be found in ancient China as well as the civilizations that dominated the Mediterranean for thousands of years.  It can even be found amongst our American forefathers.  It has been noted (yet excluded from popular society) that such influential leaders as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson all smoked cannabis and espoused its need in American society and agriculture.

Marijuana’s Face in America

Despite these facts, Marijuana became illegal in the 1930’s thanks to one man, Harry Anslinger.  Despite the use of the active ingredient in marijuana (THC), the plant has other uses as well.  These include, paper production, clothing production, and as a biofuel.  This is important for this time period because Anslinger was affiliated with the company Dupont.  Dupont was worried that expansion of the marijuana industry would lead to a decrease in its profits.  Because of this, marijuana was criminalized by Anslinger.

Furthermore, around this time period the movie “Reefer Madness” was created.  In this film, young individuals are seen going crazy, committing murder, and becoming (for the lack of a better word) dumber.  Because of these images along with Anslinger’s new laws, a new face for marijuana was created, despite its inaccurate depiction by the movie and the government.  Marijuana is now seem as an extremely addictive and dangerous psychedelic.  However, this is anything but the truth.

The Drug War

Image via Wikipedia

In the 1970’s America was trapped in the Vietnam War.  We are all familiar with the protests of this time period.  Although protesting peacefully is legal, President Nixon had a plan to remove his opposition from the streets.  Perhaps the most devastating medical research was performed with marijuana during this time period.  In the Schaffer Report, monkeys were subjected to marijuana in order to observe its effects.  The report noted that smoking marijuana led to brain cell death, and therefore a slowing of the mental capabilities of the individual.  With this new report in his pocket, Nixon set out to deal with his protesters (he had a plan).  Because Nixon found that marijuana use was high amongst those protesting the Vietnam War, and with his new found medical research, Nixon set out on what has become “The War on Drugs.”  By arresting cannabis users, Nixon simultaneously cut back on the number of those who visually opposed the Vietnam War.