Damn those Cotton Farmers

One of the reasons marijuana is illegal today is because cotton growers in the 30s lobbied against hemp farmers - they saw them as competitors.

I actually knew this one. The prohibition of marijuana is mostly associated with Harry Anslinger, the first director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Critics believe he helped Secretary of Treasury Andrew Mellon (who also happened to be Anslinger's wife's uncle), DuPont, and Hearst, three of America's richest businessmen, play on Americans' racism and fear of communism to eliminate hemp-based products. I'm a huge economics geek, so this sort of stuff really interests me... sorry if I'm boring someone to death here.

Anslinger is also notable for ridiculous quotes such as "Marijuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing", "You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother", "Reefer makes African-Americans think they're as good as white men", and the crazy list goes on.

And while we're on the topic, I have a random useless fact that's somewhat related:

The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp-based paper.

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Originally Posted by Kokizzzle

I actually knew this one. The prohibition of marijuana is mostly associated with Harry Anslinger, the first director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Critics believe he helped Secretary of Treasury Andrew Mellon (who also happened to be Anslinger's wife's uncle), DuPont, and Hearst, three of America's richest businessmen, play on Americans' racism and fear of communism to eliminate hemp-based products. I'm a huge economics geek, so this sort of stuff really interests me... sorry if I'm boring someone to death here.

Anslinger is also notable for ridiculous quotes such as "Marijuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing", "You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother", "Reefer makes African-Americans think they're as good as white men", and the crazy list goes on.

And while we're on the topic, I have a random useless fact that's somewhat related:

The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp-based paper.

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And there goes my being blissfully unaware, right out the window!

Seriously, it was good reading though! Thanks!

You know I wouldn't have mind being around back then could have easily became a billionaire. Create some stupid product and advertise that if you don't own this you're a communist. Every American would have been dumb enough to buy it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kokizzzle

I actually knew this one. The prohibition of marijuana is mostly associated with Harry Anslinger, the first director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Critics believe he helped Secretary of Treasury Andrew Mellon (who also happened to be Anslinger's wife's uncle), DuPont, and Hearst, three of America's richest businessmen, play on Americans' racism and fear of communism to eliminate hemp-based products. I'm a huge economics geek, so this sort of stuff really interests me... sorry if I'm boring someone to death here.

Anslinger is also notable for ridiculous quotes such as "Marijuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing", "You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother", "Reefer makes African-Americans think they're as good as white men", and the crazy list goes on.

And while we're on the topic, I have a random useless fact that's somewhat related:

The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp-based paper.

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Actually interesting. And no this stuff isn't boring Kokizzzle.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jason

You know I wouldn't have mind being around back then could have easily became a billionaire. Create some stupid product and advertise that if you don't own this you're a communist. Every American would have been dumb enough to buy it.

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Not every american would be dumb enough.

Back then just about every American sadly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jason

Back then just about every American sadly.

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I wouldn't have just for the sake of not doing so.:D

And they would have called you a communist.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jason

And they would have called you a communist.

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True, then I would have probably ended up "missing"