The early 20th century saw cannabis, then commonly known in the U.S., being used minimally among Americans. However, with the influx of Mexican immigrants since the Mexican Revolution in 1910, the tradition of smoking marijuana found its way into the country. This development triggered a wave of fear and prejudice against Mexican immigrants, leading to exaggerated and unfounded claims about the drug's effects. As xenophobia intensified, the term "cannabis" was gradually replaced with "marijuana" to promote the foreignness of the drug and stoke existing prejudices. Consequently, several states began passing laws to ban marijuana.
The turning point in marijuana prohibition came in the 1930s, with the efforts of Harry J. Anslinger, head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Although scientific evidence showed that the drug was not inherently dangerous, Anslinger pursued a federal ban on marijuana to bolster his department's significance. Employing a high-profile campaign that relied heavily on racism, Anslinger propagated the idea that minorities, particularly African Americans, were the majority of marijuana users and that the drug had detrimental effects on these "degenerate races."
In the 1930s, parents across the U.S. were panicked. A new film, “Reefer Madness,”
suggested that evil marijuana dealers lurked in public schools, waiting to entice
their children into a life of crime and degeneracy
Such racist rhetoric reinforced existing stereotypes and fostered a deep-seated fear of the drug among the American population. Additionally, Anslinger targeted white women, arguing that marijuana use would lead them to engage in relationships with black men, further fueling racial anxieties. Anslinger eventually oversaw the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act in 1937, which effectively made the drug illegal across the United States. Although declared unconstitutional in 1969, it was replaced by the Controlled Substances Act the following year. That legislation classified marijuana—as well as heroin and LSD, among others—as a Schedule I drug. The illegal status of marijuana in the United States can be traced back to a history deeply entwined with racism and xenophobia. The demonization of the drug was driven by unfounded claims and racially motivated fearmongering, which culminated in the passing of legislation like the Marihuana Tax Act in 1937. Today, as the movement to legalize marijuana gains momentum, it is essential to recognize and address the historical injustices and prejudices that contributed to its prohibition. Understanding the roots of marijuana prohibition can inform more just and equitable policies moving forward, ensuring that the legalization process is guided by principles of fairness, inclusivity, and a commitment to rectifying past injustices.
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