The War on Drugs 1

Objective: SWBAT Examine the history of drug law in the US Explain the similarities between Marijuana prohibition and alcohol prohibition Analyze the necessity for marijuana prohibition 2

Drugs in America Cocaine, opium, and marijuana For centuries they are used as medicines and tonics Particularly during the Victorian Era 1875 San Francisco banned smoking opium A practice common among Chinese immigrants in the city It was more about racism than the drug 3

The Harrison Act 1914 First attempt by the Federal Government to regulate the use of opium and cocaine Not a ban A tax Tax the collectors and distributors It was a crime to sell without registering and paying the tax Prescriptions were legal, but feeding the cravings were not By the 1930’s most states had banned the sale of the drug People used it less But a black market was created 4

Marijuana Herb used for thousands of years Widely cultivated in the US during the 19 th century “recreational” marijuana use would not become prevalent in the US until the 20 th century During prohibition, marijuana became a cheap, legal, substitute for alcohol 5

Harry Anslinger Head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics Led the crusade to prohibit marijuana This was part of a larger, older, crusade against intoxicating drugs Suspected other motivations William Randolph Hearst, publisher, wanted to eliminate hemp as a competitor to paper Some accuse Anslinger and Hearst of forging the links to marijuana, insanity, crime, sex and racism Anti-marijuana attacks were often hinted with racial and violent overtones 6

Marijuana The Marijuana Tax Act (1937) First attempt to control Marijuana Again, just a tax Declared unconstitutional If it was illegal in the state then paying the tax exposed you to state laws 5th amendment 7

The 60’s Little was significantly done about drugs in the 40’s WWII But as the nation suburbanized soon drug use among richer, white, youth began to be noticed The Counterculture of the 60’s furthered this identity The Beatniks The Hippies The drug Abuse and Prevention Act 1970 The controlled Substances Act Established the “Controlled Dangerous Substances” laws Anyone in possession, selling, or with the intent to sell faces sometimes serious felony charges 8

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The Marijuana Controversy Marijuana Violations are nearly half of all the drug related arrests in the United States A vast number of the are for possession alone Studies show that 37% of Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once in their life Still widely available 2013 The states of Colorado and Washington voted to legalize the recreational use of Marijuana It is still illegal to sell, but one can own, grow and use 10