Friday April 13, 2012, 2:48 pm

7000-8000 B.C.

First woven fabric believed to be from hemp.
1619

Jamestown Colony, Virginia passes law requiring farmers to grow hemp.
1700s

Hemp was the primary crop grown by George Washington at Mount Vernon, and a secondary crop grown by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.
1884

Maine is the first state to outlaw alcohol.
1906

Pure Food and Drug Act is passed, forming the Food and Drug Administration. First time that drugs have any government oversight.
1913California, apparently, passes the first state marijuana law, though missed by many because it referred to “preparations of hemp, or loco weed.”

1914

Harrison Act passed, outlawing opiates and cocaine (taxing scheme)
1915

Utah passes state anti-marijuana law.
1919

18th Amendment to the Constitution (alcohol prohibition) is ratified.
1930

Harry J. Anslinger given control of the new Federal Bureau of Narcotics (he remains in the position until 1962)
1933

21st Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, repealing alcohol prohibition.
1937

Marijuana Tax Act
1938

Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
1951

Boggs Amendment to the Harrison Narcotic Act (mandatory sentences)
1956

Narcotics Control Act adds more severe penalties
1970

Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act.
Replaces and updates all previous laws concerning narcotics and other dangerous drugs. Empasis on law enforcement. Includes the Controlled Substances Act, where marijuana is classified a Schedule 1 drug (reserved for the most dangerous drugs that have no recognized medical use).
1972

Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act.
Establishes federally funded programs for prevention and treatment
1973

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Changes Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs into the DEA
1974 and 1978

Drug Abuse Treatment and Control Amendments. Extends 1972 act
1988

Anti-Drug Abuse Act.
Establishes oversight office: National Office of Drug Control Policy and the Drug Czar
1992

ADAMHA Reorganization.
Transfers NIDA, NIMH, and NIAAA to NIH and incorporates ADAMHA’s programs into the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
*****

“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.”

“…the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.”

“Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.”

“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”

“Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing”

“You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.”

“Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”
--Harry J. Anslinger

Continue to Visit Site for full article.

Friday April 13, 2012, 4:01 pm
The reality is that the government makes money off of marijuana - they won't if it is legalized

Friday April 13, 2012, 4:56 pm
Thank you ! :)

Saturday April 14, 2012, 12:25 pm
Well, seeing such an Upstanding citizen in charge for nearly 30 years (Harry J. Anslinger given control of the new Federal Bureau of Narcotics (he remains in the position until 1962 ~ 1933) says a lot about government "policies"... especially when so many Helpful quotes come out of his mouth..;)
I still don't understand why the Surgeon General's office has chosen NOT to overturn the Schedule 1 listing, when so many studies have Proven pot Does have medical UseS & is NOT dangerous in & of itself! : "
Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act.
Replaces and updates all previous laws concerning narcotics and other dangerous drugs. Empasis on law enforcement. Includes the Controlled Substances Act, where marijuana is classified a Schedule 1 drug (reserved for the most dangerous drugs that have no recognized medical use). 1972 "

Saturday April 14, 2012, 12:28 pm
What Really upsets me is that pot is illegal, yet kids can "huff" hosehold products till they die..my husband's nephew recently died from "self-medicating" by huffing - he could not get meds for his pain..:(

Saturday April 14, 2012, 12:53 pm
I wish they'd just legalize it. While I understand that they are making lots of money fining people for using it illegally, think of all of the people who would use it if it were legal. SO many people these days have one reason why they don't use it. They fear for their jobs. If it were legal, the government could regulate and put a large amount of taxes on it and people would "come out of the closet" and use it because they no longer have to fear for their jobs. We could do like alcohol and put a 21 + age limit on it. Don't smoke and drive. Etc... To make it safe and legal would not be hard to do, and the money they'd make from all of the people who would partake were it to be legal would more than get our country out of debt!

Saturday April 14, 2012, 3:33 pm
They can't legalise it, then they won't have any more 'sheepies'!! Yes, sadly there are many other 'legal ' products that can and will kill you if used excessively!

Sunday April 15, 2012, 7:53 am
Thanks for sharing

Sunday April 15, 2012, 10:30 am
Marijuana being illegal has become a joke. Especially considering how many people admit to having tried it at one time in their life, even the politician's who impose such laws (though they usually say they didn't inhale, huh?) . In exactly what way is it worse than so-called 'legal' drugs like alcohol, nicotine and caffeine?

Sunday April 15, 2012, 11:20 am

Well...alcohol and nicotine are know to kill, so that might be one way they are different. And anything that makes people ill is just so many more dollars to the profit of the healthcare industry.

Sunday April 15, 2012, 12:26 pm
thank you for the article.

Sunday April 15, 2012, 1:05 pm
I've never understood why hemp of any kind is against the law and I never will as long as doctors prescribe pills by the millions!!! Most of which they don't know what they do to the body. I

Sunday April 15, 2012, 1:11 pm
Thank you for sharing the facts. Truth is enlightening and empowering. If alcohol and nicotine are legal, then it is illegal to criminalize hemp. We can stop the madness and meaness with the light of truth.

Sunday April 15, 2012, 2:36 pm
Thank you for the article...

Sunday April 15, 2012, 2:44 pm
Noted. Nice to know a little history behind the madness. Thanks Kit.

Sunday April 15, 2012, 3:45 pm
Don't use any drugs (not since long ago college days) but have never understood why marijuana is illegal. Seems like a system now that has too much to gain financially from keeping it illegal, but nothing for citizens to gain. Stupid waste of national energy.

Sunday April 15, 2012, 4:19 pm
Thanks for a wonderfully informative article, Kit. I'm glad it included that it was partly about hemp being competition for certain industries. It's certainly going to be a hard road to get it legalized when it will still be competition for both big pharma and paper and cotton industries AND now the military industrial and privatized prison industries can be added to the entities that make TONS of money off another war. It is another indication that our country is not run with intellect and reason, only the extremely biased manipulations of the people who gain wealth and power through legislation.

Sunday April 15, 2012, 4:28 pm
Very good article. I would add that there was another motivating factor that brought about the 1937 law. You see, the other industries didn't worry too much about the hemp industry until the 1930s, because unlike the automated other industries, hemp was very labor-intensive and cost prohibitive. The hemp industry lacked its "cotton gin" equivalent, and the buds and seeds and stalk and leaves and roots all had to be hand separated. But, in the 1930s an inventor created the "decoditator", a machine that would bring the hemp industry into the 20th century. That machine created the urgency and the criminality of the 1937 law.

Sunday April 15, 2012, 4:52 pm
Thanks Kit--great post.

Sunday April 15, 2012, 5:32 pm
I've always thought the first order of business is to get it off Schedule 1. I don't know what it will take for that to happen....been waiting years. Guess the CIA and BigPharma are too big to tangle with. Sigh!

Sunday April 15, 2012, 6:04 pm
It's kinda hard to profit from something that grows anywhere you toss the seeds... The nylon industry didn't want the competition... Pervy LBJ didn't like happy hippies... the drug cartels pay to keep their ill-gotten monopoly. There are no good reasons for Cannabis Sativa to remain illegal.

Sunday April 15, 2012, 6:11 pm

There is one motivating factor - money. Money now from privatized prisons, money buy using petroleum based products rather then hemp, money gained by all sides from the spurious label of War on Drugs. Teach you children well and they will learn this is your government abusing you.

Thanks for the many great comments - I am sorry I can not send each of you Green Stars, but I really do appreciate your thoughts.

Sunday April 15, 2012, 10:43 pm
Good article Kit,noted

Sunday April 15, 2012, 11:15 pm
A very good article and thanks for the many good comments. Now, it is time to change the Law - (Makers)

Monday April 16, 2012, 8:29 am
Our laws are made in the interest of a bunch of rich folks to maintain the expoitation, the control, and our premature death. Is it any wonder why our food, water, environment, healthcare, and just about everything else involving the well being of Americans continue to suffer. Drink all the alchohol you want, stuff yourself with fast foods, and get addicted to oxycotin and viatin. Just die quickly so you can't collect Social security or a pension.

Monday April 16, 2012, 8:53 am
noted & read

Monday April 16, 2012, 12:05 pm
thanks :)

Tuesday April 17, 2012, 7:41 am
sorry i have to say "drugs are bad" they do not help, they corup moral standads in young children by placing toxic chemicals into the growing brain of a child, my little brothers entire class used cannabis at 9 years old, they got into hard drugs by 11 years old and now get min wage for max hours for the rest of there life.
people need to understand that drugs need to be removed from places that children can be sold them by older men that want sex or money. as i said drugs are bad!

Tuesday April 17, 2012, 7:58 am
... the greedy do not care what pain anyone is in as long are their not in pain and their wallets are full.

As far as I am concerned.. there is no reason other than greed to make this simple drug pay the price for being cheap and easy to grow..

Friday April 20, 2012, 12:14 pm
It keeps on getting worse and worse . Nobody 's relizing that its not good to do drugs .