Pubdate: Wed, 14 Oct 2009
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Peter Lipskis

ONE OF THE FAMOUS 5 HAD A DARKER SIDE

Re: 'Famous 5' named honorary senators, Oct. 13

How many readers know about the dark side of Emily Murphy, the British
Empire's first woman magistrate? She was apparently a notorious racist
who crusaded against Chinese opium dens, as well as a "new menace,"
marijuana. Her 1922 book, The Black Candle, created a widespread
war-on-drugs mentality leading to legislation that defined addiction
as a law enforcement problem.

This anti-Oriental campaign precipitated the Chinese Exclusion Act and
criminalization of cannabis in 1923.

Therefore, today's drug laws are built on the racist foundations laid
by Murphy, and the drug war has harmed more women than the Persons
Case has benefited.

Peter Lipskis

Vancouver 
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