MARIJUANA:
THREAT
MARIJUANA: THREAT or MENACE?
- Marijuana, the dried leaves and flowers of the Indian hemp weed,
- is used in the form of a cigarette.
- Marijuana smoking, experts point out,
- can make a helpless addict of it's victim within weeks,
- causing physical and moral ruin and death.
- Should you ever be confronted,
- with the temptation of taking that first puff of a marijuana cigarette,
- don't do it!
GRASS
Anything to get a kick, Anything to get a blast,
Anything to palm his mind, Potheads!
They think they can go out and get high,
They think they can get turned on with pot,
They can get loaded, they can get stoned!
57% of the student party was smoking pot,
Smoking pot, pot, pot,
It fascinates, and then assassinates,
And then it kills!
A drug epidemic that's sweeping our nation,
Anything to get a kick,
Anything to get a blast, Anything to palm his mind,
Quit playing games with God!
English subtitles by Goblim goblim@hotmail.com
The Official TRUTH
If you smoke it...
You Will Kill People
"HIGH ON THE RANGE" (1929)
"Chick gave 'em to me - a new kind of cigarette."
"They're Marihuana weed, a devilish narcotic; and if you smoke them,
you go bughouse, loco, and want to raise h--- in general."
I'd like to try one just to see what effect it would have on me.
When the day's work is done...
"There's to much Marihuana smoking on this ranch and I'm going to stop it!"
"Why did you do it, Dave?"
La cucaracha La cucaracha
Although people around the world have been smoking marijuana for thousands of years,
the custom only reach the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, LAREDO, TEXAS circa 1912
when it arrived in the south west, LAREDO, TEXAS circa 1912
with the wave of Mexicans looking for work.
Porque le falta Marijuana que fumar!
- Badge, please. - Next!
To these poor laborers,
smoking marijuana was a way to relax,
after a long day of working in the fields.
But white Americans along the border,
didn't much like these foreigners or their strange customs.
Marijuana, it was rumored, gave the Mexicans super-human strength,
and turned them into blood-thirsty murderers.
ALIEN WEED MAKES MAN INTO KILLER
One evening in El Paso, some white Texans where allegedly attacked,
by a Mexican that went crazy on the killer weed.
Moving swiftly the El Paso city council passed a law banning possession of marijuana.
Supposedly designed to control marijuana,
they law quickly became a way for the city to control Mexicans.
El Paso Ordinance 1914
PASSED
Unlike the people of El Paso,
most Americans had never even heard of marijuana.
They were more concerned about the rising addiction,
to opium, morphine, cocaine and heroin, which were all serious public health issues.
But instead of treating drug addiction as a public health problem, TREASURY DEPARTMENT Washington, D.C. circa 1930
the federal government put control of these drugs in the hands of the Treasury Department,
who created the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.
- Rolling! HARRY J. ANSLINGER Commissioner Federal Bureau of Narcotics
- This is Harry J. Anslinger, commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.
- Sorry...
- The Treasury Department intends to pursuit a relentless warfare,
- against the despicable dope-peddling vulture who prays on the weakness of his fellow man,
- Hold!
Americas first drug czar was Harry J. Anslinger.
A law and order evangelist, Anslinger would shape Americas attitude,
toward marijuana for generations to come.
FAMILY • TEMPERANCE • PLEDGE GOD BLESS OUR HOME
Like many Americans, Anslinger was a prohibitionist.
These morally correct citizens,
sincerely felt that progress could only be achieved,
by controlling the depraved impulses of the masses.
- Swordfish.
He believed that if the laws where tough enough, America could be rid of alcohol.
Put enough people in jail,
and eventually the public will learn to behave.
And he applied this same philosophy on mounting the government's war on drugs.
Special treasury agent are part of a massive force, U.S. WARS ON DOPE
created solely to control the traffic in narcotics. U.S. WARS ON DOPE
- You got any merchandise obtaining in Canada or abroad?
- Have you any liquor? - No.
- Get out of the car and let's take a look at it.
- Come on.
Move over, J. Edgar Hoover,
here come the agents of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics!
Like J. Edgar Hoover, Anslinger posed for the cameras,
creating the impression he was smashing one major dope ring after another.
But he found it pretty quickly that policing 48 states,
on a depression-strapped budget was impossible.
His solution was to try to convince the states to police local drug traffic themselves.
Campaigning tirelessly he *** each state to sign a join agreement,
to commit state resources to fighting drugs.
But only nine states signed on.
The other 39 viewed it as federal interference in their affairs.
It was a major defeat for the young drug commissioner,
but he wasn't the type to give up.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA circa 1919
Meanwhile marijuana, carried by west Indian sailors,
arrived in port cities like New Orleans.
Known as 'muggles', 'tea', or 'reefer',
it was popular with the jazz crowd because it made music sound so good.
From here, musicians carried it up the Mississippi,
to urban centers in the North.
Have you ever met that funny reefer man?
Cab Calloway in "INTERNATIONAL HOUSE" (1933)
If he says he swam to China and wants to sell you South Carolina,
then you know you're talking to that reefer man!
Have you ever met that funny reefer man?
Oh that funny, funny funny reefer man?
If he trades you dimes for nickels he says watermelons are pickles,
then you know you're talking to that reefer man!
Have you ever met that funny reefer man?
Oh that funny, funny funny reefer man?
He smokes a reefer, he gets high then he flies to the sky,
that funny, funny funny reefer man!
"Reefer" Parties on South Side
"Muggles" Replaces Liquor in Harlem
With marijuana showing up in big cities, JAZZ MUSICIANS BLOW "TEA"
Anslinger realized it might be the answer to his problem.
If he could persuade white America,
that marijuana was a deadly menace,
frightened voters might push their state legislators,
to sign on his Uniform Narcotics Act.
THE NEW OFFICIAL TRUTH
If you smoke it...
YOU WILL GO
INSANE
"REEFER MADNESS" (1936)
- Faster!
- Play faster!
- Faster...
- Play faster...
- Faster.
- I know what you want.
- You wanna kill me!
- In this case the state weighs trial with defendant Ralph Wiley,
- it is convinced that he is hopelessly and incurably insane,
- a condition cause by the drug marijuana to which he was addicted.
- It is recommended your honor,
- that the defendant be placed in an institution for the criminally insane for the rest of his natural life.
- I see no reason why the request should not be granted.
Wrap your *** *** distinct of tea
Blow this hay and get high with me
Determined to get the act passed,
Anslinger unleashed a media campaign to make the public believe,
that this little known plant growing at the side of little roads,
was the biggest threat America had ever faced.
Parents beware: your children homeward bound from school,
are being introduced to a new danger,
in the form of a drug cigarette: Marijuana!
A Chicago mother watching her daughter die as an indirect result of marijuana addiction, text from Harry J. Anslinger Radio Address (1936)
told officers that at least 50 of the girls young friends where slaves to the narcotic,
continuing addiction until they deteriorate mentally,
become insane, and turn to violent crime and murder.
MURDER!
INSANITY!
DEATH!
Extra, extra...
SCHOOLYARD DOPE FIENDS!
Anslingers campaign was tailor made for the lurid tabloid press,
and supported by an army of moralist groups it captured the public's imagination.
Movietone News covering the world to bring you the news!
He's a man that smokes that jive,
that jive will take you for a dive,
One slip you will arrive, When you smoke that killing jive!
America is threatened by a new drug menace: FEDERAL T-MEN BARE SECRETS OF NEW DRUG
America is threatened by a new drug menace:
Street corner vendors whose stock-in-trade is the deadly local weed marijuana,
pass it out in cigarette form.
From ingeniously concealed containers,
the reefers go to the waiting hands of deluded youngsters.
That feeling will arrive When you smoke that killing jive!
A police find a city backyard full of dope.
This innocent looking weed is Mexican marijuana,
which when smoked produces more nightmares than opium.
Captain Mooney of the narcotics squad will tell us something about it:
- The constant use of these marijuana cigarettes causes temporary insanity.
Yet you smoke that killing jive!
- Let's go, Jack, I'm red-hot!
Our state voted for the Uniform Narcotic Act,
and so should yours!
The propaganda campaign was successful beyond Anslinger's wildest dreams.
One by one, state after state signed on.
When you smoke that killing jive!
CAPITOL HILL Washington D.C. circa 1937
- Gentlemen, take your seats.
But now, frightened out of their minds, the American public,
demanded that the federal government assed new laws to fight marijuana.
Terrified voters wanted action, and their government responded.
Without any public debate, scientific inquiry or political objection,
the Marijuana Tax Act was signed into law by President Roosevelt. JUNE 14, 1937
The act prohibited possession of marijuana anywhere in the United States,
without a special tax stamp from the Treasury Department,
and the Treasury Department didn't give out any stamps,
effectively making marijuana illegal.
Over night a new class of criminals was created.
MARIJUANA TAX ACT of 1937
PASSED
- To the treasury agents of the Bureau of Narcotics comes the job,
- of wiping out this traffic.
- And in 1937, we smashed ten major narcotic rings.
- Only the cooperation of an awakened public,
- Can make-would make... - Ah, to hell with it!
The latest crave, the country's rave is jive, jive, jive! HUNDREDS ARRESTED IN DRIVE ON DOPE
This modern treat makes life complete,
Jive, jive, jive!
All the jive is gone All the jive is gone,
I'm sorry, gate but you got here late,
All the jive is gone!
All the jive is gone All the jive is gone!
So come on in and drink some gin,
All the jive is gone!
The first person to be convicted was Samuel R. Caldwell,
a 58 year old Denver man,
sentencing him to four years hard labor at Leavenworth,
judge J. Foster Syme said:
"I consider marijuana the worst of all narcotics."
"Under it's influence, men become beasts."
"In the future, I will impose the heaviest penalties."
"The government is going to enforce this new law to the letter."
NEW YORK CITY circa 1937
- Prohibition cannot be enforced,
- for the simple reason that the majority of American people do not want it enforced, FIORELLO LA GUARDIA Mayor of New York
- and are resisting it's enforcement.
- That being so, the orderly thing to do,
- under our form of government,
- is to abolish a law which cannot be enforced,
- a law which the people of the country do not want enforced!
New York’s prohibition fighting mayor, Fiorello La Guardia,
was somewhat skeptical of the government's claims,
that marijuana was causing murder, rape, and destruction of Americas youth.
Wanting to get the facts, he commissioned a study,
by a group of 31 impartial scientists.
After six years of medical and sociological research,
the La Guardia commission found:
Smoking marijuana did not lead to violent or anti-social behavior;
Smoking marijuana did not cause uncontrollable sexual urges;
Smoking marijuana did not alter a persons basic personality structure.
Item by item, the commission’s report disproved,
every negative effect claimed by Harry Anslinger.
THE MARIJUANA PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
Furious, Anslinger used his influence with the press,
to have the report discredited,
and destroyed every copy he could get his hands on.
And by restricting the supply of marijuana,
he put a stop to any further research.
Not taking any chances,
Anslinger ordered his men to dig up dirt on anyone,
who disagreed with him,
and going on the offensive, he targeted the entertainment industry,
which he saw as a degenerate moral influence.
Gene Krupa in "DRUMMER MAN" (1947)
GENE KRUPA IS ARRESTED
Robert Mitchum in "PURSUED" (1947)
- I told you I'd wait until he was grown,
- but now he's grow and he gets his legacy,
- only it's made out of hemp.
MITCHUM NABBED IN MARIJUANA RAID
Not wanting any trouble with the government,
the Hollywood studios agreed to give Anslinger personal control,
over all movie scripts that mentioned drugs.
And movies he felt sent the wrong message,
were just banned.
Canadian Film Banned in the U.S.
WAR ON MARIJUANA
1937-1947 WAR ON MARIJUANA
$220 MILLION
Official Replacement TRUTH
If you smoke it...
YOU WILL BECOME A
Heroin Addict!
Youth is a time for fun, pranks and jokes, "DRUG ADDICTION" (1951)
of ice cream cones and chocolate sodas.
Youth is a time for getting a job,
for finding one's place in the world.
But sometimes, in these troubled days,
the very thoughtlessness of youth has led to a living nightmare:
Addiction to drugs.
- What's that? - H.
- H? What's H? - Shhh! Not so loud.
- It's heroin. - Will it make me sick like the reefers did?
Marty's story is like many of the others.
It started with marijuana cigarettes.
- Come on, it's my turn next! - Gee Duke, where did you get them?
- I... I know a guy. - Three for a buck.
- Let me try.
He was determined to be one of the gang, if it killed him.
And it almost did.
Several weeks later, after smoking reefers,
Marty's befogged brain hit on a clever way to open pop bottles.
Later Stan went to the hospital, for swallowing broken glass.
Marty badly cut the inside of his mouth, though he didn't even know it at the time.
Before long Marty was hooked,
physically dependant on heroin.
Nothing mattered but the ever- present craving for the drugs.
He had given up interest in everything else.
I get no kick from champagne
But the early 1950's, concerned about marijuana,
was overshadowed by a new media scare:
Rising heroin addiction among teenagers who,
were drifting into crime to support their habit.
"MY SON IS A HEROIN ADDICT!"
TEEN JUNKIES ON CRIME SPREE
- I want some money old Sam.
- You're... you're crazy. - The money!
- I know you. They put you in jail. - Just get the money!
- No, no! - Please, no!
This heroin scare gave the aging Anslinger,
a new way to attack marijuana and respond,
to anyone who might doubt it's terrible danger.
Smoking marijuana, he declared,
was a direct stepping stone to heroin addiction.
Remember: Most "H" Users Started On Marijuana
Satan is real working in spirit,
You can see him, and hear him in this world, every day
Satan is real Working with power
He can tempt you and lead you astray!
- An individual who tries the drug just for fun, "TEA, HORSE AND CRIME" (circa 1951)
- or experiments with it, acts exactly like a person,
- who loads the gun, puts a bullet in,
- puts it up to his head,
- very carefully, hopes for the best, and pulls the trigger.
Please stand by.
Teenage narcotic addiction, is there an answer?
CONFIDENTIAL FILE
- May I have your name, please. - Robert M. Connolyn,
- Command of the detective bureau Culver City police department, Culver City, California.
- Is there any general personality traits that would apply to addicts?
- Well yes. Most of these addicts are very sick,
- and they are a menace and have to be arrested.
- I get a lot of self satisfaction arresting those people.
- And what about teenage addiction, how does that come about usually?
- They start out by using marijuana. - And the most marijuana users,
- finally go on to hard stuff? - Yes.
- What kind of changes could be made to improve the narcotics situation,
- based on present knowledge, Bob?
- Well Paul, the addict is a sick guy.
- And anything that can be make through legislation to make the penalty far greater,
- I'm sure would be appreciated by every cop, on every beat throughout the country.
- Your name, please. - Harry J. Anslinger. SENATE CRIME HEARINGS 1951
- And your position and occupation? - Federal Commissioner of Narcotics.
Appearing at the Kefauver crime hearings,
Anslinger backed Senator Hale Boggs proposal,
to increase penalties for all drug offences.
Tougher penalties were needed he said, because behind every narcotics peddler,
there was a communist, preparing to overthrow our government.
COMMUNIST CHINA'S ROLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFIC
- According to all the documents that we have been examining,
- today, the major source is red China,
- And do you see a marked increase in the amount of drugs,
- circulating this country which you believe come from red China since China went communist in 1949?
- Oh, very much so.
- I think, under the nationalists they had the situation pretty well under control.
- There were about a thousand executions a year,
- under the nationalist Chinese government,
- I haven't heard of anyone being wounded under this regime.
Even though there was absolutely no proof of a communist plot to dope up America,
the country was in the grip of cold war hysteria,
and no politician could afford to look soft on communism.
Taking Anslingers advice, President Truman signed the Boggs Act,
which dramatically increased penalties for possession,
and ordered mandatory minimum sentences.
BOGGS ACT
BOGGS ACT 1951 PASSED
- There's a considerable amount of heroin coming out of China, DANIEL SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS 1955
- You mean red China? - Red China, yes.
On a roll now, Anslinger agitated for even tougher laws,
and got President Eisenhower to push them through congress.
Narcotic Control Act
Narcotic Control Act 1956 PASSED
The Narcotic Control Act put marijuana in the same category as heroin,
and made it subject to the same penalty.
A first conviction for possession,
was punished with a mandatory prison term of 2 to 10 years.
In addition, a number of states added their own penalties.
In Missouri, a second conviction for possession could get you life.
- This is Lieutenant McGee, Atlanta police...
- This is Lieutenant McGee, the Atlanta police department.
- We got the stuff, right away before the man had a chance to distribute it,
- Do you think this stopped the entire operation?
- Yes sir, - I'm sure of it.
- Have you ever seen anything like it before? - No sir, not in my career I haven't,
- haven't seen that much marijuana.
Ok I'm gonna get a different lens on here...
UNITED NATIONS New York circa 1961
Setting his sights higher, Anslinger went to the UN,
and used Americas influence to persuade over 100 countries,
to consolidate their various drug agreements into a single, inflexible convention,
outlawing marijuana around the world.
This was the ultimate achievement in Anslinger's relentless crusade,
to criminalize marijuana use.
SINGLE CONVENTIONS ON NARCOTIC DRUGS 1961
SINGLE CONVENTIONS ON NARCOTIC DRUGS 1961 PASSED
- Quemando, Quemando todo!
- To Harry Jacob Anslinger, distinguished citizen,
- in your dedicated efforts to combat the illegal traffic,
- in narcotic drugs, you have fashioned an effective organization to pursuit this objective.
- your noteworthy achievements in this field,
- have earned for you the respect of the world community.
- Signed, John F. Kennedy.
In leaving the bureau he'd built up,
under five different presidents,
Anslinger warned his successors,
of an impending drug revolution,
which he felt would be nothing less than an assault on the foundations of western civilization.
WAR on MARIJUANA
WAR on MARIJUANA 1948-1963
WAR on MARIJUANA 1948-1963 $ 1.5 Billion
Official TRUTH for a New Generation
IF YOU SMOKE IT...
You will WITHDRAW FROM SOCIETY
Lose All Motivation
and
UNDERMINE NATIONAL SECURITY
The responsibility only to oneself.
Life, liberty and the pursuit of pleasure. "MONDO MOD" / "TEENAGE REVOLUTION" (1966)
The new declaration of independence,
for the teenager around the world.
Smoke a joint, burn a little grass,
Pot party, roach party, mainliners, skin pop. Shoot some crystal.
The language of the narcotic and marijuana user.
The language of a large and ever increasing number of teenagers.
Starting in high school on benzedrine and dexedrine pet pills,
it is not long before many soon graduate to marijuana.
For some it quickens sexual desire.
For some it is the release of sexual inhibitions.
But whatever it is teenagers are going for it,
and maybe the forerunner of a new drug society,
out of some science fiction writer's imagination.
Will drugs pave the road to destruction,
for the now generation?
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES circa 1966
Come on now honey,
You know you really turn me on,
On campuses across the country, a whole new generation discovered drugs.
Rebellious, and willing to experiment,
they found their light, altering their consciousness.
And when and when you do...
- Do you smoke pot? - Yes I do.
- Do you smoke marijuana? - Yes.
- Do you smoke pot? - I have been smoking pot for about a year.
- Have you found it addictive? - Oh no...
- I go for months and months without smoking it,
- and then I'll smoke a lot maybe in a week.
- Well the argument is made that pot leads to the addiction to heroin or other narcotics.
- Have you found this to be so among the people you know?
- No, not at all.
- The people who use the stronger drugs, the opiates etcetera,
- are not the people who smoke marijuana,
- the people who smoke marijuana do not use the other drugs.
MARIJUANA IS WHOLESOME
Gradually, the perception that marijuana was dangerous began to change.
Many students saw smoking grass as a rejection of establishment values,
a way of declaring their independence.
SAN FRANCISCO 1967
Over bridge of sighs,
To rest my eyes in shades of green,
Under dreaming spires, GOLDEN GATE PARK BE-IN
to Itchycoo Park, that's where I've been, GOLDEN GATE PARK BE-IN
- What did you do there? - I got high! ALLEN GINSBERG, poet
- What did you feel there? - Well I cried! TIMOTHY LEARY, psychologist and author
- But why the tears there? - Tell you why: JERRY GARCIA, musician
It's all too beautiful!
I feel inclined to blow my mind,
Get hung up feed the ducks with a bun,
They all come out to groove about,
Be nice and have fun in the sun!
- At this point we are going to leave Golden Gate Park,
- to go into the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco.
- The last 18 months has seen a tremendous increase of the so-called 'hippies'.
- This is a protest against the middle and upper class people of San Francisco,
- *** of the area.
- It is the belief of the people who live within the area,
- that we, the middle class, have done a very, very poor job,
- in running our government and in our way of life.
This weekend Jefferson Airplane on Friday,
Grateful Dead on Saturday, at the Carousel Ballroom,
high above Market and Van Ness.
- Anybody hungry? - Hey how about we order some Chinese?
- Order some Chinese to do what?
TREASURY DEPARTMENT Washington, D.C. circa 1967
Federal Bureau of Narcotics, please hold. TREASURY DEPARTMENT Washington, D.C. circa 1967
Federal Bureau of Narcotics, please hold.
HENRY GIORDANO Commissioner, Federal Bureau of Narcotics
The new head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, HENRY GIORDANO Commissioner, Federal Bureau of Narcotics
Henry Giordano, began to realize he had a problem.
To address it,
he developed a campaign he hoped would be believable to the younger generation.
"If you smoke marijuana, you will become an,
unmotivated, dysfunctional looser."
Pammie's on a bummer now,
And nobody knows where she's at,
She could be almost anywhere,
Maybe someday she'll be back,
She started smoking pot,
- If you become a pothead, SONNY BONO entertainer
- you risk blowing the most important time of your life: SONNY BONO entertainer
- Your teenage. That unrepeatable time for you to grow up,
- and to prepare for being an adult,
- that can handle problems and make something meaningful out of life.
- Or, you have the choice to have the courage, to see and deal,
- with the world for what it really is: far, far from perfect,
- but for you, and for me, the only one...
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA circa 1967
Because so many were trying marijuana without any ill effects, PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA circa 1967
the public demanded to know more.
And for the first time, the federal government,
approved scientific testing.
- The plain fact is that none of us know very much about this drug,
- in any verifiable way.
- Well Bill it's been about two hours since you got the drug, how do you feel?
- Fantastic!
- "Defiant?" - Not at all.
- "Businesslike?" - Not at all.
- "Friendly?"
- Extreme...
- This is so ridiculous.
- Would you be interested in taking part in a study like this again,
- and having the same type of drug? - Sure!
- It's been a very pleasant experience for you?
- I'll do it anytime you want.
- Do you think it would be... - Any time at all!
- Just call me any time at the day or the night...
- We found out that the drug makes people happy,
- it makes them intoxicated and finally makes them sleepy.
- Which is about what marijuana users were telling us happened all the time.
Last call folks, drink it up!
It's nice to see you, Bob. How's the wife, huh?
Kids are okay? Good. That's fine.
Let's drink tomorrow! Hell, let's drink tonight!
Hell, let's drink!
- It says right here that
- alcohol does more harm to your nervous system.
- Stop reading that underground trash and pay more attention to your homework!
- All that drivel they talk...
We don't smoke marijuana in Muskogee,
We don't take our trips on LSD,
Whether the younger generation was presented as drugged-out hippies,
or anti-war protestors,
conservative America reacted with a fear,
and hatred that threatened to pull the country apart.
And I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee,
A place where even squares can have a ball,
We still wave Old Glory...
This is fire support base Aeries, 50 miles northeast of Saigon.
Vito is a 20 year old draftee from Philadelphia.
A photographer before he entered the army,
Vito is now a squad leader, responsible of the lives of a dozen men.
- Well, it's called the shotgun...
- What we basically use it for on the LC,
- I guess even out in the fields so if you wanna know,
- is that we use it to shotgun.
- From a bowl, you know you just put the bowl in the chamber and all,
- Paul let me borrow that that bowl from the...
- Here you go... - Cool.
- This is probably all sins and we're getting busted, but I don’t care.
- "Shotgun"...
What's happening here is also happening to some extent,
at virtually every other American installation in Vietnam.
Recent surveys estimate that well over 50% of the soldiers in Vietnam use marijuana.
- You get really stoned.
- Then like, who cares about the war?
- This war...
NIXON CAMPAIGN COMMERCIAL (1968)
It is time for an honest look at the problem of order in the United States.
So I pledge to you, we shall have order in the United States.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA 1968
Manipulating the fears of what he termed the silent majority,
Richard Nixon build his campaign for the presidency,
around an emotionally charged central issue:
Restoring law and order,
and it worked.
As president, Nixon was determined to be seen,
as the toughest crime fighter ever.
But most crimes fell under state jurisdiction,
so Nixon wasn't allowed to get involved.
However there was one area where the federal government did have power:
Drug crime.
Early in his first term,
Nixon launched Operation Intercept, a military style exercise,
officially described as the country's largest peace time,
search and seizure operation.
In it, 2000 customs agents were deployed along the Mexican border.
Their orders? Stop the marijuana.
- This is the biggest mistake the government of the United States has made,
- and the biggest offence they could have done to the Mexican people.
- I think it's excellent,
- I think if it stops the marijuana flow in Los Angeles,
- and the southern cities I think it's excellent, if it doesn't, then I think our time is wasted.
Although more than five million American and Mexican citizens,
passed through this dragnet, practically no marijuana was intercepted.
After three weeks, Operation Intercept was abandoned.
I have a couple of burritos, Over.
Have you brought the hot sauce? Over.
Yes, it is very tasty. Over.
Okay. Let's have a picnic.
I will see you at the picnic site.
Now, even more determined to appear tough on crime,
Nixon poured federal money into equipping, training and educating,
local police forces across America.
In the day-to-day conduct of your police duties,
no matter how or for what reason you're called to investigate a situation in a residence, POLICE TRAINING FILM (circa 1969)
use your eyes to detect evidence of marijuana,
hashish, or narcotic violation.
The evidence you're looking for is here alright.
But it has to be located before you can read it.
Use your eyes.
Ashtrays are logical places to use your eyes,
for evidence of marijuana violations.
There are some noticeable differences between a marijuana or grass joint,
and the butt of an ordinary cigarette,
fairly visible even at distance to those you use their eyes.
This of course is marijuana itself,
the best evidence of all.
It has distinctive characteristics. Learn them. Use your eyes.
It also has the distinctive aroma,
so use your nose as well as your eyes.
- Police officer, open the door!
- Inside, inside, come on...
- Look right here.
As arrests skyrocketed, the convictions were no longer limited to minorities,
now most of the people serving time,
were white, middle- class American kids.
- Why do you smoke marijuana?
- It's really very simple.
- I smoke it because I enjoy it.
- It doesn't worries you that you're breaking the law?
- Sure it worries me!
- I mean it worries me because I don't wanna get caught,
- I do not want to go to jail,
- for something that I consider a pleasure,
- and harmless, to both society and to myself.
- I'm not hurting anybody, I'm not hurting myself.
- Why should I be punished for it?
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile,
It don't cost very much but it'll last a long while,
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone,
No I'm just tryin' to have me some fun.
When Don Crowe was convicted of selling marijuana,
to undercover agent there seemed reason for hope.
It was his first offence after all, and the amount had been small,
less than one ounce. But the jury saw it's duty.
Sentence? 50 years in prison.
For Crowe, 25 years old, newly returned from Vietnam,
it was a bitter pill.
- I had the feeling that I was fighting for my country, and for my fellow men.
- And it is kind of depressing to know that I should come back and be given 50 years,
- for allegedly selling some marijuana.
- This is a purple heart that he received the first time he was wounded.
There is a mother's pride as Ms. Crowl,
recounts Don's military record.
But it is hard for her,
"He loved his country", she says. "He was a good boy."
- Well we were naturally so proud of him,
- when he was over there,
- and when he came back and all this happened,
- of course I've just been heartbroken and I think it is a little severe penalty.
POTpourri: Many Views of Marijuana
- I don't think that a kid should have their entire future career blinded,
- by having an arrest record for being caught in a room where marijuana was kept,
- or of smoking a joint of marijuana when they're a kid in college or a young kid,
- and that's exactly what happens,
- Everyone here seems to emphasize the kids,
- How can you communicate with them when they got flowers on their ears,
- so they can't hear and hair down to their hip pockets,
- A young person, other minority group members,
- have a much greater chance of being arrested and are arrested,
- and if this continues, we're going to decimate the youthful population of America.
- That's exactly what's going to happen.
- If anyone of us has a kid who's arrested,
- it's going to be an arrest for narcotic violation in his record for the rest of his life.
- He can't go in the peace corps, he can't teach school, he can't be a cop,
- What's the difference if he committed murder he'd have an arrest record?
- Fine if he committed murder he's harmed someone!
- Can any law be effective, especially a law dealing with marijuana,
- when there is so much controversy from so many eminent-
- No law can be effective that actually, that tries to regulate or legislate private morality.
- You can't make homosexual laws effective, you cant make,
- could you pass a law that says it's a crime to masturbate?
- You couldn't enforce it!
- There's laws in the book that says "thou shalt not fornicate" either, and you wouldn't go around arresting kids for fornicating,
- *** law I would. - Don't you even know it's against the law? You're a hell of a cop!
- It is against the law a matter of fact... sex is illegal in most of America, - Everything is illegal in America.
- *** illegal *** it's that simple.
- I think we've come to somewhat of a conclusion here,
- in that the law is not very effective. - No it's not, how can it be effective,
- when you have 10 thousand kids in one city are being arrested in one year,
- the law is not effective.
As middle class parents began asking, MARIHUANA: Time to Change The Law?
"Why is my kid in jail?" MARIHUANA: Time to Change The Law?
More and more Americans began to feel that the problem was not marijuana, MARIHUANA: Time to Change The Law?
but marijuana laws.
Feeling's getting stronger,
WOODSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL
Music's getting longer too,
Music is flashin' me,
I want to, I want to,
I wanna take you higher,
Support for reform of marijuana law seemed to come from everywhere.
Even federal officials agreed that harsh penalties were not working.
SENATE HEARING ON MARIJUANA LEGISLATION 1969
- A conservative estimate of persons in the United States, SENATE HEARING ON MARIJUANA LEGISLATION 1969
- both juvenile and adults who have used marijuana at least once, DR. STANLEY YOLLES Director, National Institute of Mental Health
- is about 8 million and may go as high as 12 million. DR. STANLEY YOLLES Director, National Institute of Mental Health
- Can you imagine what would happen to the law enforcement,
- and correction system of this country,
- if each of these 12 million people had been caught by a policeman when smoking his first marijuana cigarette.
- The first place in which legal reforms can be made,
- is in the removal of mandatory minimum penalties in all cases of drug abuse.
Sensing the public's mood,
Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act,
which eliminated mandatory minimum sentences,
and reduced penalties for possession.
Would take you high, high, high...
WAR ON MARIJUANA 1964-1969
WAR ON MARIJUANA 1964-1969 $1 BILLION
WAR ON MARIJUANA 1964-1969 $2 BILLION
WAR ON MARIJUANA 1964-1969 $3 BILLION
WAR ON MARIJUANA 1964-1969 $4 BILLION
WAR ON MARIJUANA 1964-1969 $5 BILLION
WAR ON MARIJUANA 1964-1969 $6 BILLION
WAR ON MARIJUANA 1964-1969 $7 BILLION
WAR ON MARIJUANA 1964-1969 $8 BILLION
WAR ON MARIJUANA 1964-1969 $9 BILLION
OFFICIAL TRUTH FOR YOUR OWN GOOD
If you smoke it...
BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN
BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE
- Is she dead? - Not yet.
- This picture was taken at 10 pm. - The girl lived until midnight. "DRAGNET" (circa 1970)
- Any questions?
- But I maintain the evidence against marijuana isn't in yet.
- Well sir, will you conceive that it might be as harmful as alcohol.
- Alright, but it's no worse. - No sir, I hope not.
- Because according to US government figures,
- between 5 and 6 million people in this country are physically and mentally sick as a result of their use of alcohol.
- If marijuana possesses only half the potential of alcohol,
- for violence, criminality,
- accidents and social degradation... - Do we need pot?
Unwilling to let a bunch of *** liberals to,
ruin his crime fighting agenda,
Nixon enlisted TV-producers and show business stars,
to send a strong moral message,
"to every home, every school and every church in America."
I've done a study of drug abuse,
and I'm at the middle of the whole thing,
where I can do the most good. ELVIS PRESLEY Special Assistant, Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
Some people say that in a matter of months "Acapulco Gold", PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (circa 1971)
will be available over the counter, menthol and king size,
which is an indication of how little people know about marijuana.
Today research scientists are studying it's effects on the brain,
the nervous system, chromosomes, various organs of the body,
maybe it will turn out there is no reason for it to be illegal.
But nobody can be sure until all the facts are in.
And until they are, it's a pretty bum risk.
Repelled by the idea of softening any laws,
Nixon maintain that until more was known about marijuana's dangers,
the law should not change. To this end he made millions of dollars available,
to find those dangers.
POT SMOKERS BEWARE Scientists report bizarre side effects:
MEN GROW BREASTS!
- Many of us are concerned that a large percentage,
- of our young people are breaking the law by smoking marijuana.
- As you know here on White House conference youth voted to legalize marijuana,
- I know you thought about this problem and I wonder,
- if you could give us some of your thoughts on it. - As you know,
- there is a commission that is supposed to make recommendations to me about this subject,
- The recommendation of the Commission in it's first report, RAYMOND P. SHAFER Chairman, National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse
- is that we do not feel that private use,
- or private possession in one's own home,
- should have the stigma of criminalization,
- that people who experiment,
- should not be criminalized for that particular behavior.
The presidential commissions report on marijuana found,
marijuana use in and of itself, did not cause crime.
Current laws against grass led to selective prosecution,
and the police were suspected of using these laws to arrest people,
with objectionable hairstyles,
skin color, or politics.
The enormous cost of trying to enforce laws against marijuana,
overwhelmingly outweighed any deterrent value of these laws.
The commission had conducted the most comprehensive highly publicized,
study of marijuana, ever done.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF MARIHUANA AND DRUG ABUSE
Furious, Nixon tossed it in the waste basket, without ever reading it.
- Mr. President?
- Okay...
- Whenever you're ready.
- I shall continue to oppose efforts to legalize marijuana.
Doing the exact opposite of what was recommended,
Nixon declared an all-out war on drugs.
His primary weapon, the DEA. A new government agency,
that combined all of the government's existing anti-drug agencies,
into a single, all-powerful super-agency.
- You should keep going forward until...
- until you're right there... - Looks like you're right on top of it.
- Is that all there is? - Yes.
- The last week we pulled 13 pounds of it from about 5 different patches and we got another 4 or 5 now,
- that are really small patches but we are gonna go get in and pull them out today.
- What do you do with the, so you just come in and destroy the patches, that the idea?
- We destroy the patch and then we'll take it and burn it.
- Apparently there is somebody coming back here and cultivating this?
- Definitely. - These are all in nice little neat rows,
- it's kind of rotating crop, some are smaller than others.
- How good is Georgia pot?
- I've never smoked it, so I don't know.
One toke over the line Sweet Jesus,
One toke over the line,
Sitting downtown in a railway station,
One toke over the line!
Employing more than 4000 analysts and agents,
the DEA had the authority to request wiretaps,
in their private homes without knocking, and gather intelligence on ordinary citizens.
Brewer and Shipley still "One Toke Over the Line",
and now Wadsworth Mansion,
smoking a little "Sweet Mary".
Sweet Mary sent a letter to me,
She say to hurry home I need you right away,
Meanwhile, in suburbia, smoking pot had become the in-thing,
for middle-class adults.
Sort of like having a martini at happy hour,
Sweet Mary I'm coming home,
Coming home to you, yeah, yeah,
Sweet Mary I'm coming home now,
That's the least I can do!
Fry over a low to medium fire for about 5 minutes,
stirring to avoid burning.
Let it cool a few minutes, then, grind it into a powder.
Now you can do anything you want with it:
will it be an ice cream, butter, milkshakes, Jell-O,
or put it in honey an freeze it into squares for later.
- Until recently the use of marijuana was considered a youth phenomena,
- a thing of campus protest, the counter-culture, longhair.
- Well, not so in the 70's.
- Meet some of the "criminals" at large.
- I've spent a lot of time with my daughter and her friends,
and they all smoked marijuana, and so I had to try it! BETTY STRAND, GRANDMOTHER, AGE 56
- I first used pot back in the latter part of 1968,
- and used it since then with some degree of regularity.
- I had some pot earlier today before I went down to court.
- I smoke at home, smoke at parties, many places.
- To me it's a question of the rights to life, liberty,
- and the pursuit of happiness. - You know, who owns me?
Sign up here! You over there, come here!
As smoking marijuana became increasingly mainstream,
pro pot activists began organizing support for decriminalization.
- Last year in this country, there were 226.000 marijuana related arrests,
- and although the police sometimes tell us that they're only interested in the pusher, the seller, as they say, KEITH STROUP Founder, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
- the fact is that only 7% of those arrests were against the seller.
- 93% of those arrests were for possession and use.
- Now what that means is that there were about 200.000 young people,
- in this country last year, who were given an unnecessary criminal record,
- and all that involved for the rest of their life,
- simply because they smoked grass, something which is a relatively harmless thing to do.
- So we're not trying to encourage the use of the drug, in fact we're trying to discourage it.
- But we're trying to get the country to understand that there are other means to discourage the use of drugs,
- other than a criminal law, and in this case,
- the use of the criminal law causes more harm than the drug itself.
A political activist named John Sinclair became a symbol for the movement.
He received a jail sentence of "10 for 2",
10 years in prison for possession of 2 joints.
- This song I wrote for John Sinclair.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono in "TEN FOR TWO" (1972)
It ain't fair, John Sinclair,
In the stair for breathing air,
Won't you care for John Sinclair?
In the stair for breathing air,
Let him be, set him free,
Let him be like you and me.
They give him 10 for 2!
What else can judge Columba do?
We got to, got to, got to, got to, got to, got to, got to, got to, got to,
got to, got to, got to, got to, got to, got to, set him...
free! FREE!
Takin' it to the streets,
Consistent with the changing times, the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan,
passed an ordinance taking marijuana possession out of the criminal code.
and making it a minor offence, the equivalent of a parking ticket.
Takin' it to the streets, No more need for runnin',
Takin' it to the streets, Takin' it to the street...
Ann Arbor City Ordinance 1972
GRASS
A year later, after a groundbreaking vote in it's legislature,
Oregon became the first state to completely decriminalize marijuana.
- Here is a state that is not afraid to plow new ground,
- in an area where there's a lot of hysteria.
- It's not gonna be very widely understood, TOM McCALL Governor of Oregon
- but I think as you look back over the handling of drugs, TOM McCALL Governor of Oregon
- if you can keep it in for a few years, you'll see it was landmark legislation.
Takin' it to the streets, Takin' it to the streets,
Oregon Decriminalization Bill
Oregon Decriminalization Bill 1973 PASSED
In 1974, with legal problems of his own, Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency.
Legalize it, LEGALIZE MARIJUANA
Don't criticize it, - We smoke pot!
- We smoke pot!
Legalize it, Yeah, yeah,
And I will advertise it,
- We don't want any penalty for the private possession,
- and use, and cultivation of marijuana.
Legalize it...
A study in Oregon 4 years after decriminalization,
showed no increase in marijuana use,
and a substantial savings of tax dollars,
formerly spent on law enforcement.
By that time, 10 other states had decriminalized marijuana.
Continuing Nixon's war on drugs,
fill-in president Gerald Ford ordered,
US forces to spray Mexican marijuana fields,
with the military defoliant Paraquat.
But in the upcoming presidential election, he found himself running against an unexpected opponent.
- Appreciate your vote.
Jimmy CARTER for President
- I do favor the decriminalization of marijuana. CARTER PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN 1975
Can our government be competent?
Jimmy Carter says yes,
Tonight on Headline NEWS:
President Carter proposes major changes to federal drug laws.
- I support a change in law, and in federal criminal penalties,
- for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana,
- leaving the states free to adopt,
- whatever laws they wish concerning marijuana.
Doing part to advocacy by the decriminalization movement,
the government was finally preparing to abandon it's war,
on marijuana smokers.
WAR ON MARIJUANA * 1970-1977
COST $76 BILLION
Fundamental Official Truth
If you smoke it...
YOU WILL BE IN THE GRIP OF SATAN
and The Godless Sodomites That Run
HOLLYWOOD
- Is that a joint man?
"UP IN SMOKE" (1978)
- That looks like a quarter pounder man,
- Led Zeppelin! - Be careful with that shit man.
- Toke, toke it out man.
- Kinda grabs you by the boo-boo, don't it?
- What is in this man? - Mostly Mauie Wowie man,
- Yeah? - But it got some Labrador in it.
- What's Labrador? - It's dog shit.
- What? - Yeah my dog ate my stash man,
- So I had to farm with a little baggy for three days before I got it back.
- That's some heavy shit man...
- Hey man, I'm I driving okay?
- I think we're parked man.
Well alright you squares it's time we smoked,
HOLLYWEED
Everybody get high, Sing bustin’ out!
In the permissive 70's, marijuana seemed to be everywhere,
through movies and television, it had entered the popular culture.
- The FBI claims that a huge shipment of grass which they are calling "Killer Dope",
- has been smuggled into New York City. "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" (circa 1978)
- The bureau urges, users not to smoke the weed, which is greenish-brown in color,
- not particularly seedy, and contains mostly cannabis buds.
- Warning symptoms are a mild euphoria a slight rise in the pulse rate,
- some hallucination and death by laughter within 15 minutes of ingestion.
- In an effort to aid the FBI in it's investigation, Weekend Update,
- is undertaking it's own analysis of marijuana sent to us anonymously by any viewers who may be worried.
- Simply place a small sample of the suspected cannabis in an envelope,
- and send it immediately to: Chevy Chase,
apartment 12, 827 West New York City 10053.
But not everyone was laughing.
Worried about teenage marijuana use,
a number of concerned parents organized pressure groups,
to fight the new drug culture.
- This is a dashboard pipe that fits under the dashboard of your car,
- so that you can put pot in here, and then the driver and his date, SUSAN RUSCHE Co-Founder, National Families in Action
- can get stoned as they're touring down the freeway. SUSAN RUSCHE Co-Founder, National Families in Action
- This is designed to put some pot in and then you smoke,
- the pot out of here.
- You can toss a smoke to a friend if you want to.
- There are things like "bongs", that's B-O-N-G.
- You put the pot here, light it,
- and smoke travels down here, collects,
- and then you get a concentrated volume of smoke... by sucking in like this.
- And I think the label is instructed: Bong, the only thing wasted is you".
- This too is a bong, it's called a power-hitter, and it works by sticking a joint here,
- and then blasting it, into your lungs, like this.
- It comes as a Star Wars space gun also.
POSTER HUT
CHAMBLEE, GEORGIA 1978
- Hello Gary?
- Just put the box in the bag... we'll make the...
- Could you please leave?
- You're gonna have to leave, I'm sorry.
- And you are? - Closed, officially closed as of now.
- Most of the afternoon was spent trying to decide,
- what actually were headshops and drug-related paraphernalia.
- Mangers and owners from headshops around the area testified that the law is now so ambiguous,
- that possibly as much as 80% of their inventory could now be considered illegal.
- One owner admitted he may be out of work within the week...
- Okay.
- Most of the afternoon was spent trying to decide,
- what actually were headshops and drug-related paraphernalia, and...
- Okay.
- Most of the afternoon was spent trying to...
- Okay.
- Most of the afternoon was spent trying to decide,
- what were headshops and drug-related paraphernalia.
- Owners and managers of headshops around... - Toke, toke!
THE QUAALUDE AFFAIR
It the midst of this backlash, Dr. Peter Bourne,
Carter's chief drug policy advisor,
was caught up in a scandal involving alleged cocaine use.
As the press had a field day, the president could no longer afford,
to appear soft on drugs.
His proposal to decriminalize marijuana would die in congress.
She don’t lie, she don’t lie she don’t lie, cocaine...
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO DECRIMINALIZATION?
- I'm sick and tired of hearing about all of the radicals,
- and the perverts, and the liberals,
- and the lefties, and the communists coming out of the closet,
- it's time for God's people to come out of the closet,
- out of the churches and change America! We must do it!
Driven by a sense of righteous indignation,
the religious right mobilized into a potent political force,
after a brief period of tolerance,
America was poised for a major swing the other way.
VO†E
- Leading medical researchers, are coming to the conclusion, that marijuana, REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN 1980
- pot, grass, whatever you wanna call it,
- is probably the most dangerous drug in the United States,
- and we haven't begun to find out all of the ill effects,
- but they are permanent ill effects, the loss of memory for example.
This is your brain on drugs,
Any questions?
- Just say "no". - Just say "no".
- Just say "no"!
In her crusade to address the America, Mrs. Reagan let school children...
...are police officers in schools to spy on...
...ordered mandatory drug testing for all federal employees. He then calls for the nation's industries to...
The supreme court has given school principles the right to,
strip-search any student suspected of drug possession.
Signing a threat to national security,
the president today, signed legislation, ANTI-DRUG ABUSE ACT 1968
allowing law-enforcement agencies to seize property from society... ANTI-DRUG ABUSE ACT 1988
Under president George Bush's new zero tolerance policy, marijuana smokers...
- Using illegal drugs is against the law.
They'll stone ya when you're tryin' to keep your seat.
- And when you're caught, you will be punished.
They'll stone ya when you're walkin' on the floor.
- Some think there won't be room for them in jail...
They'll stone ya when you're walkin' to the door,
- We'll make room.
- The rules have changed.
In his speech to the coastguard today, George Bush said,
that drug trafficking should be grounds for death penalties.
Everybody must get stoned!
- I'm proposing a quarter of a billion dollar...
- billion dollar.. - 2.2 billion...
- 8 billion dollars. - The largest increase in history.
But I would not feel so all alone,
Everybody must get stoned...
WAR ON MARIJUANA 1980-1998
$214,7 BILLION
"DRUG WAR" MEANS POLICE $TATE INC.
- We smoke pot! WHO AM I HURTING?
- We smoke pot! Pot MAKES ME HAPPY
Since President Clinton took office, NEW YORK CITY 1999
over 3 million people have been arrested for possession of marijuana, NEW YORK CITY 1999
more than under any previous administration.
The United States government continues to wage a war on grass that,
time, and time again, has proven itself misguided, and completely ineffective.
That being so, the orderly thing to do,
under our form of government,
is to abolish a law which cannot be enforced,
a law which the people of the country do not want enforced!
- Soothe me with your caress,
- Sweet marihuana,
- Marihuana!
- Help me in my distress sweet marihuana,
- Please do!
- You alone can bring my lover back to me,
- Even though I know it's all a fantasy,
- And then put me to sleep,
- Sweet marihuana,
- Marihuana!
English subtitles by Goblim goblim@hotmail.com
- Potheads!
Anything to get a kick, Anything to get a blast,
Anything to palm his mind,
They think they can go out and get high,
They think they can get turned on with pot,
They can get loaded, they can get stoned!
Get a bong, get a bong, get a bong,
57% of the student party was smoking pot,
Smoking pot, pot, pot,
It fascinates, and then assassinates,
And then it kills!
A drug epidemic that's sweeping our nation,
We need to legalize pot!
Man... I didn't dig that!
Smoking pot!
Cold turkey withdrawal!
Smoking pot!
Anything to palm his mind,
Smoking pot!
Anything to get a blast,
Smoking pot!
Quit playing games with God!
Potheads!
- If what you see and hear in this picture,
- will keep one of you, only one person from taking that first step,
- our purpose has been accomplished.