I've read many reasons for marijuana being illegal in the US. I've read the reason you give, that the anti-semetic feelings of America towards Mexicans prompted the illegal status. Just before marijuana was made pseudo-illegal, there was a comparitavely large influx of Mexicans into the US. They were looking for work (sound familiar?). They brought their MJ with them and it soon became popular among Americans that were exposed to the Mexican influence. I'm not sure how true this is though in regards to motivating criminalization.
Another theory I've read is that hemp (which was grown in great quantities at that time) was threatening the paper industry. It's been said that the "paper czars" of the time deliberately created campaigns to put marijuana in a bad light and eventually criminalize its possession. Again, I'm not sure about the truth of this as it sounds more like conspiracy than actual history. Also, hemp contains little to no THC, so it's somewhat silly that growing hemp is illegal. I say "somewhat", because I've read valid arguments supporting keeping hemp illegal, such as its ability to camouflage marijuana crops and make it difficult for authorities to find illegal marijuana growing operations.
In order to really understand it, it's important to look at the
legal history of cannabis in the United States, notably the
Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 and the
Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970.
For a more economical approach to the subject, I recommend the following reading:
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Economists have not yet reached a conclusion on legalizing marijuana. Most believe that legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana would both stimulate the economy and reallocate US funds towards enforcing more dangerous crimes than illicit drug possession. Others believe that the social cost of legalizing marijuana outweighs the economic benefits. [47] Economists such as Robert J. Barro and Gary S. Becker believe that Marijuana should be legalized and the profits taxed to act as an economic stimulus to bring the United States out of the recession in 2009. [48] The revenues could be used to increase public awareness about the harmful effects of Marijuana on the body. Legalization would also decrease the $8 billion of government spending on law enforcement in regards to Marijuana possession every year.[49] On the other hand, those such as Joel W. Hay and Paul Taubman believe that the legalization of Marijuana would have negative consequences on society, such as an increase in substance abuse, negating the economic benefits. [50] Overall, the general consensus of economist seems to be opposed to prohibition, but only slightly supporting decriminalization or liberalization. [51] However, most seem to agree that Marijuana Policies in 2008 to 2009 have been ineffective and costly to the government. [52] Daniel K. Benjamin and Roger LeRoy Miller believe that the most effective policy of Marijuana would be the a purely Constitutional approach, which would allow each individual state government to regulate and control Marijuana within their own boarders. [53]
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Legality of cannabis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Even after studying all this though, I'm still baffled as to why MJ use or possession is criminal, especially as medicine.
