Drug War History: The Origins of Marihuana, the Mexican Menace
How income inequality, Mexican folk songs and the rise of Pancho Villa laid the early groundwork for America’s War on Drugs.
Introducing Part I of The Equity Organization’s Drug War History’ Series.
The racialization of drug use has been used to oppress certain segments of society for centuries. To illustrate this impulse, this installment of Drug War History focuses on marihuana use in early 20th century Mexico.
Mexican marihuana use spans back centuries. Mexican folk healers — who referred to it as “the herb that makes one speak” — frequently used the plant to remedy ailments & illnesses.
In the late 1800s, social use began to spike. Alcohol — being expensive & difficult to come by — was largely associated with Mexico’s land-owning class. Marihuana, which was cheaper, became known as the intoxicant of choice amongst the country’s lower classes. Marihuana was particularly popular with Pancho Villa’s peasant army, who were fighting against a segregated, unequal society.
As Villa’s army grew stronger so did the influence of narcocorridos: folk songs glorifying the politics, military exploits and lifestyle of the revolutionaries. In fact, the lyrics of ‘La…
