It's not a criticism, it's an observation.
Killer weed wipes out white women
Mike Cox

Near Independence Day, Al Gore Jr. was caught speeding in California and a subsequent search found marijuana in his car.

Gore pled guilty to drug possession and promised to complete a drug diversion program in exchange for a clean record. The speeding charge was lost in the shuffle. Lucky for the Gore family pot possession isn't as damaging as it used to be. The ghost of Harry Anslinger must be disappointed.

Anslinger was the first head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, founded in 1930 to deal primarily with opium and cocaine. But the new drug czar wanted to outlaw an herb with a history dating back to the earliest days of America.

When our country was founded, hemp, as pot was known then, was a staple of the young nation's farmers. The weed was used for rope, sails, clothing, even bibles. Hemp as a cash crop continued until the early 1900s.

When Anslinger began regulating drugs in America, he immediately focused on marijuana. The agency launched a misinformation campaign against pot, complete with unsubstantiated stories about men becoming sex fiends and murderers after smoking one joint.

No one is sure what motivated his crusade, although there were rumors a derivative from marijuana seeds could replace petroleum as a base for the developing plastics industry. The Duponts were friends of Anslinger.

The Bureau's concern for "Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers spreading Satanic music like Jazz and Swing while under the influence of this devil weed", was also a catalyst for regulation, along with "a fear of white women being physically attracted to Negroes." You can see the need for regulation was valid.

As usual, Congress listened to publicity rather than checking the facts, and passed legislation making marijuana a dangerous drug. The American Medical Association was against the ban, citing the medicinal possibilities of the drug, but to no avail.

Things were quiet until the '60s, when pot became the drug of choice for those Damn Hippies who were ruining the country. Suddenly the hysteria over marijuana was renewed, as thousands of people over 30 feared the repercussions of a whole generation of dope fiends running wild, practicing free love, and sassing their elders.

The trials and sentencing stories were astounding. Several young men were given life sentences for simple possession, while drunk drivers and rapists were routinely put on probation.

Today, marijuana regulation is still politically motivated. There are studies showing the drug is beneficial to glaucoma and cancer patients, but the federal government is intent on crushing all use and discussion. Several states allow medicinal possession, but the Feds still prosecute.

Since most of those dirty, anti- establishment revolutionaries are now over 50 regular folks, shouldn't there be some kind of movement to reconsider the existing laws and decriminalize pot, or at least place it in a more reasonable category?

It just seems there are more important things for our politicians and police forces to do.

I guess no one wants to rock the boat. Besides, the white women still need protection.