Pubdate: Mon, 23 Sep 2002
Source: Daily Vidette (IL Edu)
Copyright: 2002 Daily Vidette
Contact:  http://www.its.ilstu.edu/vidette/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/666
Author: Redford Givens
Website:  http://www.collegepublisher.com/dailyvidette/

DON'T VILIFY MARIJUANA TO SAVE HEMP

It's good to see students learning the truth about hemp, but it is wrong to 
denounce marijuana to justify hemp. The marijuana laws are based on the 
most lunatic notions ever used to enact a law:

"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 can cause white women 
to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others."

"The primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races."

"Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, 
criminality and death."

"Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind."

"[Smoking] one [marijuana] cigarette might develop a homicidal mania, 
probably to kill his brother."

(From Harry J Anslinger's sworn statements for the Marijuana Tax Act of 
1937, the 1951 Boggs Act (harsher penalties), 1956 Narcotics Control Act - 
Boggs-Daniels (even harsher penalties) and his propaganda statements to the 
press.)

"Marihuana influences Negroes to to look at white people in the eye, step 
on white men's shadows and look at a white woman twice." (Hearst newspapers 
nationwide, 1934)

These absurd claims were made to prevent the commercial exploitation of 
hemp, not to protect people from imaginary attacks of Reefer Madness. The 
whole purpose of marijuana prohibition is to keep hemp products off the 
market. (See: The Emperor Wears No Clothes by Jack Herer 
http://www.jackherer.com/chapters.html)

Hemp is an extremely valuable crop for ending the damage being done by 
greenhouse gases and ozone depletion. Switching from timber to hemp for our 
paper supplies can help restore proper carbon dioxide levels and eliminate 
a huge source of dioxin pollution.

Legalizing hemp/marijuana will go a long way toward cleaning up the 
environment.

Redford Givens Webmaster, Schaffer Library of Drug Policy 
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/index.HTM
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom