Marijuana: Misconstrued And Misunderstood
Weed, hemp, marijuana, pot, ganja and reefer. These are all different names for arguably the most controversial drug of the generation. The legalization of marijuana has become a controversial topic in American society with enormous amounts of both approval and opposition. Currently, medicinal marijuana is legal in 32 states, while recreational marijuana is legal in 10 states, plus the District of Columbia. In light of these recent marijuana-law reforms, one can only ponder the question: With so much support for the drug, how and why did it become illegal in the first place? The answer, however, is not so simple. Lee Fang’s “The Real Reason Pot Is Still Illegal” is an article from The Nation that assesses this very question and explains its connection with the dubious actions of people and companies in power. Years of misconception and misdirection from the American government and major pharmaceutical corporations have given the public a false depiction of what marijuana really is and its possible benefits for society.
For a society that prides itself on the prohibition of drugs, we certainly cannot get enough of them. One only has to step foot in a Starbucks to be engulfed into a world of drugs. Coffee’s most notorious ingredient, caffeine, as well as alcohol, and nicotine, are all examples of extremely addictive drugs that are sold practically everywhere. These drugs can be sold and used with no punishment from the law because they are completely legal. There is also, however, a wide array of illegal drugs, such as marijuana — but it was not always that way. Before assessing the current laws around marijuana, it is of utmost importance to consider how the drug became illegal in the first place. In the 18th century, marijuana was legal and had a multitude of recognized health benefits from Europeans and Anglo-Saxons, such as the ability to decrease seizures and alleviate pain without causing physical dependence (Little). Unfortunately, during the turn of the century, the average American’s perception of cannabis shifted. Why? Because of racist and xenophobic sentiments.
Around the time of the 1910 Mexican Revolution, there became an influx of Mexican immigrants into the country, and a correlating influx of fears and prejudices about these newcomers from the American people and government. One of these fears happened to be the customary means of intoxication for Mexicans: marijuana. Soon, the “dangers” of cannabis became common knowledge, and lies were spread to the general public:
Police officers in Texas claimed that marijuana incited violent crimes, aroused a ‘lust for blood,’ and gave its users ‘superhuman strength.’ Rumors spread that Mexicans were distributing this ‘killer weed’ to unsuspecting American schoolchildren (Schlosser).
There were many other measures to ensure the public fed into the lies about marijuana, such as the movie “Reefer Madness”, which warned parents about the dangers of the “deadly reefer”. Despite the lack of any evidence to support these claims, states began outlawing marijuana, and with the help of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, the drug became banned nationwide — regardless of objections from the American Medical Association in regard to its medical usage (Little). After years of disdain, marijuana is again becoming a prominent conversation topic, as it is constantly seen in the news regarding the increase in legalization and decriminalization amongst states and counties all over the nation. People have begun to question the xenophobic foundation of marijuana prohibition and advocate for change; however, that change is confronted with its own roadblocks of this day and age.
After uncovering the racist and illegitimate reasons for cannabis prohibition, another question must be asked. Why is it that marijuana is still illegal today? The article, “The Real Reason Pot Is Still Illegal”, by Lee Fang, explores the real rationale behind Marijuana’s legal status, and sheds light on big pharmaceutical companies, such as Purdue Pharma, who have spent decades combating marijuana reform. Fang opens up the article briskly, introducing to his readers the people who are largely responsible for keeping pot illegal: opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. Despite the common arguments presented by anti-marijuana reformists, such as an increased rate of crime and addiction, Fang states that in actuality that is not the case:
The opponents of marijuana law reform argue that such measures pose significant dangers, from increased crime and juvenile delinquency to addiction and death. But legalization’s biggest threat is to the bottom line of these same special interests, which reap significant monetary advantages from pot prohibition that are rarely acknowledged in public debate (Fang).
Fang argues that the people who are putting the most resources into stopping the legalization of the drug, marijuana, are actually creators of their own, much deadlier drug. Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and fentanyl are all examples of opioids, strong and highly addictive painkillers that come from the opium poppy and are manufactured by large corporations, such as Purdue Pharma and Janssen Pharmaceuticals (Fang). These companies often try to paint themselves in a good light but have been caught and sued for doing extremely shady things.
The opiods that these companies produce are the most dangerous and abused drugs in America with over 16,000 annual deaths related to addiction and overdose (Fang). With this statistic in mind, it would be more than expected for companies like Purdue Pharma to use all of their resources to fight this epidemic — but unfortunately that is not the case. Purdue Pharma has actually done the complete opposite, paying millions of dollars in fines for deceptive marketing meant to decrease the known addictive properties of OxyContin, and illegally encouraging doctors to overprescribe it. The rationale behind these immoral decisions are simple — money, money, and money. These companies will go to drastic measures to ensure their business is set on non-stop production. This also means that these powerful companies will strive to eliminate competition in the industry, and because marijuana can alleviate pain without addiction, it becomes clear why these pharmaceutical corporations want to keep cannabis illegal. It would come as no surprise then, that many anti-marijuana organizations, such as CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America), and the Partnership for Drug Free Kids, rely heavily on funding from pharmaceutical companies. The largest donors for the Partnership for Drug Free Kids includes the maker of OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, and the makers of Vicodin, Abbott Laboratories (Fang). Today, the stigma behind the “dangers” of marijuana are not influenced by racism, but rather by power and money.
Despite its relatively untold history, marijuana continues to become a more prevalent topic everyday. After years of prohibition, the general perception of cannabis is beginning to change and its medical benefits are once again being reaped. Marijuana has a wide variety of health benefits and has been praised for being an effective muscle relaxant, as well as easing chronic pain, nerve pain, multiple sclerosis, and even tremors in Parkinson’s disease (Grinspoon). A drug this beneficial and non-addictive could hold the key to the future of American healthcare and well-being in general. Although the past has looked dark and bleak, the future is beginning to look green and leafy.
Works Cited
Grinspoon, Peter. “Medical Marijuana.” Harvard Health Blog, Harvard Health Publishing, 9 Jan. 2018, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/medical-marijuana-2018011513085.
Little, Becky. “Why the U.S. Made Marijuana Illegal.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 4 Aug. 2017, www.history.com/news/why-the-u-s-made-marijuana-illegal.
Schlosser, Eric. “Reefer Madness.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 1 Aug. 1994, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1994/08/reefer-madness/303476/.
Fang, Lee. “The Real Reason Pot Is Still Illegal.” The Nation, 29 June 2015, www.thenation.com/article/anti-pot-lobbys-big-bankroll/.
