NCJ Number
29813
Date Published
1974
Length
382 pages
Annotation
DETAILED HISTORY OF MARIJUANA USE AND PROHIBITION IN THE UNITED STATES FROM ITS INTRODUCTION BY MEXICAN FARM LABORERS AND CARIBBEAN STEVEDORES DURING THE FIRST DECADES ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY INTO THE EARLY 1970'S.
Abstract
BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST SPECIFIC ANTIMARIHUANA PROHIBITION IN UTAH AND CALIFORNIA IN 1915, THE AUTHORS TRACE THE MARIHUANA STORY THROUGH FIVE SEPARATE PHASES: A PERIOD (1915-31) OF DISTINCTLY LOCAL AND REGIONAL PROHIBITION, OCCURRING PRIMARILY IN THE STATES WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI AND INFLUENCED HEAVILY BY ANTI-MEXICAN SENTIMENT; A NATIONALIZATION PERIOD (1932-37) CHARACTERIZED BY SHRILL PROPAGANDA IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIFORM NARCOTIC DRUG ACT AND CONGRESSIONAL PASSAGE OF THE MARIHUANA TAX ACT; A PERIOD OF DORMANCY (1938-51) AFTER PROHIBITION WAS ACHIEVED; AN ESCALATION PHASE (1951-65) WHEN MARIHUANA WAS PORTRAYED AS THE FIRST STEPPING-STONE TO HEROIN ADDICTION AND THE NATION EMBARKED ON AN EXTREMELY PUNITIVE APPROACH TO 'NARCOTICS' USE; AND THE MODERN 'PENALTY REDUCTION PHASE' (1965- ) WHEN THE ENTRENCHED OPPOSITION TO MARIHUANA USE WAS EXPOSED TO PUBLIC DEBATE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS FIFTYHISTORY. THE LAST TWO CHAPTERS DESCRIBE IN DETAIL SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTAL RESPONSES TO THE SPREAD OF MARIHUANA USE TO THE MAINSTREAM OF AMERICAN SOCIETY AFTER 1965. HERE THE AUTHORS ALSO REPORT SCIENTIFIC, POLITICAL DIALOGUE AND THE AMBIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO. THE BOOK CLOSES WITH A PREDICTION THAT THE MARIHUANA STORY IS ABOUT TO ENTER ITS SIXTH PHASE CHARACTERIZED BY A RESHAPING OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND A FUNDAMENTAL REFORM OF THE LAWS. THIS BOOK INCLUDES A VARIETY OF NEWSPAPER CARTOONS REFLECTING OFFICIAL ATTITUDES TOWARD THE 'KILLER DRUG,' AND A SERIES OF MAPS PORTRAYING THE SPREAD AND SCOPE OF ANTIMARIHUANA LAWS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)