Banned Marijuana: Because the Department of Prohibition boss needed SOMETHING to do - that is all.

[vkkv]

In 1929, a man called Harry Anslinger was put in charge of the Department of Prohibition in Washington, D.C. But alcohol prohibition had been a disaster. Gangsters had taken over whole neighborhoods. Alcohol -- controlled by criminals -- had become even more poisonous.

So alcohol prohibition finally ended -- and Harry Anslinger was afraid. He found himself in charge of a huge government department, with nothing for it to do. Up until then, he had said that cannabis was not a problem. It doesn't harm people, he explained, and "there is no more absurd fallacy" than the idea it makes people violent.

But then -- suddenly, when his department needed a new purpose -- he announced he had changed his mind.

He explained to the public what would happen if you smoked cannabis.

First, you will fall into "a delirious rage." Then you will be gripped by "dreams... of an erotic character." Then you will "lose the power of connected thought." Finally, you will reach the inevitable end-point: "Insanity."

Marijuana turns man into a "wild beast." If marijuana bumped into Frankenstein's monster on the stairs, Anslinger warned, the monster would drop dead of fright.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-influence/real-reasons-marijuana-is-banned_b_9210248.html


- - - This is EXACTLY what my father told me 30 years ago about why pot was banned.

[meow2u3]

1. So the demon weed narrative was all a pack of lies from the beginning

And a moral panic to boot, all stemming from boredom, fear of losing a job, and racism all rolled into one.

[Jeff Murdoch]

2. Hell, didn't Anslinger finance "Reefer Madness?"

maybe I am remembering incorrectly.



/link:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/14/marijuana-prohibition-racist_n_4590190.html|

[freedomrock1970]

3. There is even more to the Story

It goes even further ---

Lookup the relationship between Hearst - Anslinger - Dupont.
Newspaper and the clothing industry were threatened by cheap Hemp.

Then Pharma, racism, immigration mix themselves into the conversation.

It really is an ugly example of the corporate greed and xenophobia colluding with our government.

Today's GOP would be proud.

End the Ban

[vkkv]

4. A lot of businesses capitalized on the marijuana ban.

Especially the alcohol industry which was just given a reprieve.

Sick greed...

[freedomrock1970]

5. Not Just Alcohol

The Judicial and Private Prison industry as well.

It's just a stupid plant.