Was Marijuana Prohibition Based on Racism?

Another post on marijuana?

Yup, another post on he subject.

But hold on for a minute! This isn't just some typical post about the progress being made in this state or that city. No, this is about an article from the Huffington Post that actually examines the rather surprisingly racist history behind the prohibition of marijuana (and the bigger failed "War on Drugs" that this nation has waged, with the result being the biggest prison population of any nation in the world).

Now, wait! Is the argument actually being made that racism and the illegalization of pot are somehow linked?

Why, yes it is. Here is one paragraph from the article by Nick Wing of The Huffington Post:

"In a column for The Fix, Maia Szalavitz reminds us that Harry Anslinger, the father of the war on weed, fully embraced racism as a tool to demonize marijuana. As the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, a predecessor to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Anslinger institutionalized his belief that pot's "effect on the degenerate races" made its prohibition a top priority."

Just to be sure that this is not some crazy conspiracy theory, or anything, we get quotes from the man himself. Here is Anslinger's justification for the prohibition, making a case for it that must have spoken to the racist fears of America, some seven or so decades ago:

"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S., 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."

And here's another gem from Anslinger:

“Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men."

Hmmm.....makes you kind of wonder, doesn't it?

This is really a fascinating topic for an article, and I recommend taking a look at it for yourself. It is illuminating, and perhaps provides another dimension of the whole marijuana prohibition, and the larger "War on Drugs" that we are waging in the United States to this day. I never knew about these racist roots for the pro-marijuana ban camp.

Read it for yourself, by clicking on the following link:


"Marijuana Prohibition Was Racist From The Start. Not Much Has Changed. "  by Nick Wing - Huffington Post, January 14, 2014:

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