[quote]Varqanir wrote:
swirly wrote:
Marijuana has been around since like the 1500’s and was first used in China as a pain reliever and euphoria inducing substance.
The 1500s?
More like 7000 BC.
The ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Scythians, Romans, and Greeks (who gave the plant its scientific name, cannabis) were all big old pot-heads, along with the Chinese and Indians (who gave the plant its Rasta name, ganja). If you’re looking for historical precedent, you’ve got basically all of recorded history.
Every one of the major religions in the world, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, an Islam, has used some form of cannabis in sacraments and rituals. Cannabis is approved by every god in the pantheon.
There is no conclusive evidence indicating that consumption of cannabis causes physiological or psychological damage, and indeed its therapeutic uses are well documented in both ancient and modern medicine. 4 out of 5 doctors recommend medical marijuana for their patients who smoke marijuana.
Cannabis is illegal in the United States today largely because of the efforts of three men: William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper magnate; Lamont Dupont, the chemical magnate, and Harry Anslinger, commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (what is now the DEA).
Hearst and Dupont wanted to ban cannabis for commercial reasons. The fact that the plant may be used to make paper (indeed, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper), rope, plastic, and textiles caused discomfort for Hearst, who wanted no competition for his wood-pulp paper production, and for Dupont, who wanted no competition for his company’s wonder-fibers like nylon and polyester.
Anslinger’s objection to cannabis was entirely for moral and public safety reasons, to wit:
“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others.”
“Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.”
“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”
“Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”
“Marijuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing.”
Harry seemed oblivious to the obvious contradiction of the last two quotes, and was just as oblivious of the reams of documentation from the medical and law enforcement communities which contradicted the claims he made in the other quotes.
No matter. Harry pled his case in a congressional hearing, backed up by Hearst and Dupont, and marijuana was banned, in the name of profits from deforestation, proliferation of petroleum-based synthetics, and demonstrably false and racially-motivated propaganda.
Now, if this hasn’t convinced you to imbibe a bit of the magical herb, then nothing will.[/quote]
Lol, I should’ve just gone to the next page and seen this post, it would’ve saved me a post. But we’re saying the same thing.