A brief history of Reefer Madness
🥦 USE DATES BACK NEARLY 10,000 YEARS FOR MEDICINAL AND THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES. THIS HAS BEEN TRUE SINCE ANCIENT TIMES.
1990s
ARRESTS GROW AT AN ALARMING RATE
From 1990 to 2002, 🥦 arrests surged by 113%, accounting for 82% of the growth in drug arrests. Despite c****bis arrests constituting nearly half of all drug arrests, only 6% resulted in felony convictions.
This aggressive enforcement disproportionately impacted African Americans, who made up 14% of 🥦 users but 30% of arrests. The period saw an estimated annual expenditure of $4 billion on the arrest, prosecution, and incarceration of 🥦 offenders, underscoring the vast resources dedicated to this aspect of the drug war.
IN 1996 CALIFORNIA’S PROP 215 BECAME THE FIRST U.S. LAW TO PERMIT MEDICAL USE OF C****BIS.
1910s-1920s
THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION & C****BIS PROPAGANDA
The Mexican Revolution resulted in many immigrants coming to the U.S., bringing with them 🥦 .
The U.S. media exploited fears of immigrants, linking 🥦 to violence and crime. This portrayal stigmatized both the plant and the immigrant community.
1920s-1930s
DELIBERATE ATTEMPTS TO EXPLOIT RACIAL PREJUDICES TO DEMONIZE C****BIS AND ITS USERS
Campaigns appeared claiming that 🥦 use led to degenerate behavior, promiscuity, and even insanity.
Anslinger is famously quoted as saying, "Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men." Such racially charged statements were used to stoke fears about 🥦 and its supposed effects on society.
This wasn't just an attack on 🥦; it marked the beginning of deeply rooted racist narratives that persist and influence societal perceptions even today.
1930s
HARRY J. ANSLINGER– THE TRUE DEMON
As the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN), Anslinger played a pivotal role in the demonization of 🥦 during the 1930s, often utilizing racial and xenophobic undertones.
Anslinger played a pivotal role in using his platform to disseminate stories of 🥦-induced violence and moral decay.
1936
”REEFER MADNESS”
The term "Reefer Madness" stems from a 1936 propaganda film of the same name, which depicted exaggerated and often laughable consequences of 🥦 consumption; such as c****bis users as descending into madness, committing heinous crimes, and displaying uncontrollable behavior.
This portrayal justified strict drug laws, framing 🥦 as a public safety threat.
1936
“DEVIL’S LETTUCE”
The phrase likely emerged around this time, amidst the backdrop of anti-🥦 campaigns in the United States. These campaigns often depicted 🥦 as a dangerous and immoral substance, leading to associations with "devilish" behavior.
The term is now often used humorously or ironically in contemporary culture.
1937
THE MARIJUANA TAX ACT OF 1937
The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 didn't outright ban c****bis but imposed a tax on the sale, possession, or transfer of all hemp products, effectively criminalizing the plant unless individuals complied with strict regulatory requirements. This made it commercially unviable and risky for most to produce or distribute. While the act primarily targeted recreational use, it did allow for specific industrial and medical uses.
The act paved the way for full 🥦 prohibition and set a federal tone favoring criminalization. Propaganda with racial undertones ensured its enforcement hit marginalized communities hardest.
1940s
PUBLIC PERCEPTION SHIFTS
Due to the media campaigns and government stance, the public's perception of 🥦 was largely negative. It was seen as a drug that could corrupt youth and lead to societal decay.
There was a strong anti-c****bis sentiment during the 1940s, which laid the groundwork for the even stricter regulations and the War on Drugs in the subsequent decades.
1950s
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE WAR ON DRUGS
In the 1950s, Cold War propaganda indirectly shaped drug perceptions. The U.S. government used media to portray negative views of communism, fostering a drive for societal conformity. This climate stigmatized "counter-culture" elements, including drug use, paving the way for the intensified "war on drugs" in later decades.
IN 1954 ALICE B TOKLA’S COOKBOOK FEATURED 🥦 BROWNIES.
1960s
THE COUNTER CULTURE DECADE
In response to the rising rebellious youth movement, the government launched anti-drug campaigns targeting young people. During this period, 🥦 emerged as a potent symbol of counter-culture and rebellion against establishment norms.
The 1960s was a decade of questioning authority, challenging traditional norms, and seeking social justice and change. The confluence of political events, cultural shifts, and a large, vocal youth population created a perfect storm for rebellion and transformation.
1970s
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT
🥦 was classified as a Schedule I substance, implying it had a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, intensifying its negative stigma.
1980s
REAGAN’S WAR ON DRUGS
In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan intensified the "War on Drugs," casting 🥦 as a gateway drug. This campaign amplified long-standing fears and stigmas, merging them with the decade's rising concerns over drugs like cocaine. The conflation of c****bis with more dangerous substances further entrenched its negative image in public perception.
The "War on Drugs" disproportionately targeted marginalized communities, leading to significant racial disparities in arrests and incarceration. By the late 1980s, policies resulted in a surge of non-violent drug offenses, with African-Americans and Latinos overrepresented.
This racial bias has contributed to the U.S. having one of the highest incarceration rates globally, with marginalized communities bearing the brunt.
1986
ANTI-DRUG ENFORCEMENT
President Reagan's Anti-Drug Enforcement Measures, paired with the 1984 Comprehensive Crime Control Act, intensified federal penalties for 🥦 offenses.
Holding 100 🥦 plants equated to possessing 100 grams of heroin. Later changes introduced a "three-strikes" rule, mandating life for repeat drug offenders and the death penalty for top-tier drug dealers.
MARY JANE RATHBUN, ALSO KNOWN AS BROWNIE MARY WAS A 🥦 RIGHTS ACTIVIST KNOWN FOR BAKING AND DISTRIBUTING C****BIS BROWNIES TO AIDS PATIENTS IN SAN FRANCISCO IN THE 1980S AND 1990S.
2000s
LAWS BEGIN TO EVOLVE
U.S. 🥦 laws evolved, with states often conflicting with federal regulations. California's Proposition 215 in 1996 began the trend of state-level medical 🥦 legalization.
IN 2012 COLORADO AND WASHINGTON LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL USE. BY 2016, MOST STATES HAD LEGALIZED MEDICAL C****BIS.
2024
FEARS, MISINFORMATION AND INJUSTICE
STILL EXISTS.
Despite state-level 🥦 legalization, deeply entrenched stereotypes and racial injustices continue to shape perceptions and policies, underscoring the enduring challenges of fully rectifying past wrongs.