Thursday, September 22, 2011

DuPont hates Cannabis - Part 3

     Until now, I have left one factor out of this saga's equation: *William Randolph Hearst*.  Hearst was the owner of the largest newspaper conglomerate in his day and he took full advantage of it. Using yellow journalism and smear tactics, Hearst's papers painted a false picture of cannabis as being a factor in violent crimes and interracial unions.  
     It is ironic that this occurred around the same time as the invention of the hemp decorticator (1935), a device used in separating the cellulose fibers from the plant.  Much like the cotton gin did for cotton, the decorticator allowed for hemp fiber processing time - and ultimately production costs - to drop significantly.  Previously (in 1916), the USDA concluded that pulp made from hemp was "favorable in comparison with those used in wood pulp".Here is a *link* to a downloadable copy of their findings.  Hemp was on course to become America's leading cash crop!  
     Hearst had other plans, however. Because the Hearst corporation also was a major logging company, Hearst had vested interest in hundreds of thousands of acres of timber. DuPont produced the chemicals for the treatment of raw wood pulp into usable paper.  DuPont also was a huge advertiser in Hearst's publications. These two giants were not about to let hemp get between them and dollar bills...
     The vast size of the newspaper empire of the Hearst Corporation allowed for Hearst to propagate completely made-up tales of rape, murder, and "madness"! It was claimed that white women would be seduced by marijuana to "seek sexual relations" with "Negroes and  Mexicans and entertainers".  With society being duped of the purportedly dangerous effects of cannabis, the stage was being set for prohibition.  Remember Andrew Mellon? He was the Treasury Secretary at the time and he appointed his nephew, Harry Anslinger, to be head of the newly formed Federal Bureau of Narcotics (by the way, cannabis is not a narcotic).  Anslinger hated minorities and believed that "the Devil's music", Jazz, was a direct  result of marijuana use by minority entertainers.  
    It is quite sad that all of this greed, racism, and lies have set America back. Because of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1938, cannabis was virtually outlawed (by doubling the cost for registered possessors and multiplying the cost a hundred-fold for unregistered possessors).  If you haven't, please read "DuPont hates Cannabis" in all three parts.  Also, share these blog entries with people who think marijuana was outlawed with good intentions.  
     

2 comments:

  1. Within the past year or so I have become greatly involved in learning about this plant and the history behind the plant and why is was outlawed. Because, if I'm going to partake in action suited from the plant, I would like to understand it. I just want to say thank you for providing such enlightening information to further broaden my horizon.

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  2. Get this, Andrew... Even though I advocate for cannabis and support the use of it, not only medicinally but also for industrial uses, I have NEVER smoked it - I have only used medicated food for muscle relaxation... which is probably less than once every two weeks or so... I certainly appreciate the feedback and encourage my followers to pass this blog along to others via Facebook and other social media sites as well as word-of-mouth. As this blog grows, I intend on adding other features such as polls and interviews. Thank you!

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