Why was marijuana banned across the world almost 100 years ago?

Marijuana has been used comfortably by many nations for thousands of years. A variety of the cannabis plant, known as hemp, was used to make rope, textiles and even fine linen.

Then in the early part of the 1900’s marijuana began to be banned around the world – why was this?

Some reasons why marijuana was banned in the US

At the turn of the last century many Mexicans were coming across the border into the US as a result of the Mexican revolution. This created tension because, amongst other things, of the use of Mexicans as cheaper labor. And when jobs became even scarcer during the depression in the 1930’s, tensions grew further toward immigrating Mexicans.

Thus reasons were sought to rid America of this perceived threat. One such reason seamed to manifest itself in the fact that many Mexicans were marijuana smokers and they even brought the marijuana plant with them to grow on American soil. For the most part there was not a perceived connection with the cannabis plant which was widely used for textiles. Consequently, research reveals that rumors and lies were spread regarding those who smoked marijuana. It was alleged that marijuana made Mexicans crazy and caused them to commit violent crimes and terrible atrocities.

Racism was also used to put marijuana in a negative light. Many disparaging allegations were made about those who smoked marijuana, amongst other things, that black people were emboldened to treat whites with disrespect when they smoked it.

As a result of these and many more slanderous allegations against marijuana, it began to be banned throughout the US.

It was banned in:

• California 1913 as a result of an anti-narcotics campaign
• Utah 1914 as part of Mormon religious prohibitions

In 1930 Harry J. Anslinger was made director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. And it is apparent that Anslinger used all the negative press against marijuana as a stepping stone to further his career. He was also able to promote this extreme jaundiced view of marijuana by means of a chain of newspapers. Consequently marijuana was banned in the US in 1937.

But marijuana was also banned in other parts of the world, for what reasons?

Why was marijuana banned in the UK?

In 1914 in the United Kingdom, the government put regulations in place to control drugs during the 1^st World War. In 1916 the sale of marijuana and other drugs to the troops was banned. This law was later enforced on the entire population.

In 1925 Britain signed the Geneva International Convention on Narcotics Control organized by the League of Nations. They had added cannabis to the agenda because of extremely negative allegations made against marijuana by Egypt and Turkey.

It was banned in the UK in 1928 as an addition to the dangerous drug act of 1920.

So, in conclusion, history reveals that there is much skepticism as to the legitimacy of marijuana being banned across the world for more than 100 years.

References

Drugwarrant.com

Druglibrary.com

Theweek.co.uk