Reefer Madness??
A brief history of Marijuana from practical use to criminalization in the United States from the early 1900s to 1971.
Tell Your Children, The Burning Question, Dope Addict, Doped Youth, and Love Madness…But better yet, Reefer Madness; these titles are all dedicated to one American made, anti-marijuana propaganda movie made in 1936 directed by Louis Gasnier. The movie follows students around and shows the effects marijuana can impose on a person like hit and run, homicide, suicide, attempted rape, and eventually madness.
Marijuana for the most part of America’s history has been legal, up until the 1930s, when America started to take action and impose a tax on the plant. There are even direct quotes of our founding fathers growing hemp on their plantations.
Up until 1937 marijuana was a very strong economic commodity in America; in fact, from the early 1600’s-1890’s domestic production of hemp for ropes, sails, and clothing were highly encouraged. It wasn’t until after the Mexican revolution when Mexican immigrants flooded into the U.S. and introduced recreational use of the plant did America start fearing marijuana. Ignorance and discrimination surrounded the plant, as American’s feared the idea of the newcomers in turn relating that fear towards recreational use the hemp plant.
During the early 1900’s the idea and faith in big government really started to take off. Social issues such as marijuana, prostitution, racetrack gambling, prize fighting, and alcohol were being confronted by the legislature. By 1911 Massachusetts became the first state to outlaw marijuana, later followed by Maine, Wyoming, and Indiana in 1913.
By 1915, President Wilson signed the Harrison Act which became the model for future Drug Regulation Legislation. Wilson signed a total of three bills in 1915 that were originally introduced in 1913 by Francis B. Harrison. Although these bills did not directly affect marijuana, they paved the way for future regulations to be made.
Even though fear was continuing to grow in the United States of marijuana, demand for marijuana-based medication grew. The race began between pharmaceutical companies to create a consistent and reliable drug from marijuana. By 1930 two companies, Parke-Davis and Eli-Lily started selling extracts from the plant commonly used as an analgesic, antispasmodic, and as a sedative.
The 1930’s were a very detrimental decade for marijuana use. In 1933 Harry J. Anslinger was appointed commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Anslinger was a pivot point for marijuana prohibition; he represented the extreme reaction against marijuana consumption.
Six years after Anslinger was appointed commissioner, the Bureau of Narcotics urges Federal action against marijuana. Anslinger was eager to get marijuana off the streets and out of everyone’s hands. During 1936 the Bureau also headlined marijuana in its report Traffic in Opium and Other Dangerous Drugs. By the end of 1936, 48 states enacted laws to regulate marijuana. Marijuana was becoming increasingly irrelevant in the medical world as the discovery of medications like Aspirin, Morphine and other opium-based drugs declined the desire for marijuana for medicinal use.
Not only were government associations like the Bureau of Narcotics out to put a plug on marijuana, but church groups were also actively involved. In 1936, Reefer Madness was financed by a small church group and directed by Louis Gasnier. The movie’s demographic was aimed at parents who had kids or teenagers, in hopes for them to keep their children from experimenting with the plant.
In light of marijuana’s grim reputation, in 1937 the American Medical Association opposed the proposed Marijuana Tax Act and supported medical research on the plant. Hearings for the tax act were held between April 27th and May 4th; the last of those hearings came from Dr. William C. Woodward, counsel of the American Medical Association. He openly opposed the bill and proclaimed that there is not enough research on the plant, but it might have important uses in medicine and psychology.
October 2nd, The Marijuana Tax Stamp Act was passed. On the same day the FBI raided Lexington Hotel in Denver Colorado, arresting 58-year-old Samuel R. Caldwell for selling marijuana. Along with Caldwell, the FBI arrested his client Moses Baca for possession at the scene of Caldwell’s arrest.
It was clear by 1937 the any hopes of marijuana use staying legal were diminished. With the AMA’s proclamation at the hearing having no affect the U.S. passes the Marijuana Tax Act, which ultimately leads to decline in marijuana prescribed medications. Doctors found it easier to prescribe other medications to their patients than fill out the extra paperwork. Five years later in 1942, marijuana was removed from the U.S. Pharmacopeia, losing any remaining medical legitimacy it held.
In 1951 the Boggs Act was passed by Congress; this act established a consistent sentence for anyone possessing drugs. Although it did not distinguish between user and traffickers, the driving force behind this act was the fear and ignorance that drug use was a contagious incurable disease, and addicts needed to be quarantined.
A short 19 years later, in 1970 Congress passes the Controlled Substances Act, classifying marijuana as having “no accepted medical use.” Congress established five schedules to classify substances under, classifying marijuana at the top of the list as a schedule one substance.
By this time America was split in two on it’s views of marijuana, this was becoming more than just a fight on whether marijuana should be legal or not, but rather a fight on whether the government should be allowed to control the people to the point where they can’t decide for themselves if they can use a naturally growing substance. By 1971, President Nixon declares a war on drugs.
America’s public enemy number one in the United States is drug abuse. In order to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new, all-out offensive.
I have asked the Congress to provide the legislative authority and the funds to fuel this kind of an offensive. This will be a worldwide offensive dealing with the problems of sources of supply, as well as Americans who may be stationed abroad, wherever they are in the world. It will be government wide, pulling together the nine different fragmented areas within the government in which this problem is now being handled, and it will be nationwide in terms of a new educational program that we trust will result from the discussions that we have had.
With regard to this offensive, it is necessary first to have a new organization, and the new organization will be within the White House. Dr. Jaffe, who will be one of the briefers here today, will be the man directly responsible. He will report directly to me, and he will have the responsibility to take all of the Government agencies, nine, that deal with the problems of rehabilitation, in which his primary responsibilities will be research and education, and see that they work not at cross-purposes, but work together in dealing with the problem.
Nixon makes a public announcement declaring his stance on not only marijuana, but also drug abuse. He has given congress the OK to commence a full frontal assault on drug abuse, he also decided to bring in Dr. Jerome H. Jaffe, giving Nixon the knowledge and legitimacy of a narcotics specialist.
In today’s century, we’re seeing a complete opposite outlook from the Nixon days. With science leading the way, we’re slowly discovering that marijuana does indeed have medical use. We’re also seeing a more liberal minded population, increasingly favoring limited recreational use much like alcohol and tobacco. One can’t help but wonder what the past leaders of our nation would think about the situation now; would Jefferson support this slow moving reform, would Nixon oppose Jefferson’s possible legalization stance? Perhaps this is where democracy shines brightest, allowing us the people to decide on a matter that only affects us, the people.
