1930's

Reefer Madness 


During the Great Depression of the 1930’s unemployment greatly increased and contributed to the growing resentment of Mexican immigrants. As the resentment of the newcomers grew so did the resentment and fear of their culture. Marijuana use was beginning to gain the attention of government officials. Such concern “instigated a flurry of research which linked the use of marijuana with violence, crime and other socially deviant behaviors, primary committed by ‘racially inferior’ or underclass communities. By 1931, 29 states had outlawed marijuana.”  Shortly after, in 1932, the Uniform State Narcotic Act was establish which wasn’t federal mandated but “strongly encouraged state government to accept responsibility for controlling of problem by adopting the Uniform State Narcotic Act.” During the 30’s a French film director produced “Reefer Madness,” a propaganda film which later lead The Motion Picture Association of American to prohibit the showing of any films the included narcotic use. In 1937, congress passed the marijuana tax act which “criminalized marijuana, restricting possession of the drug to individuals who paid an excise tax for certain authorized medical and industrial uses.” Clearly by the end of the 1930’s laws, policies, and regulations establish by the American society deemed recreational marijuana use as extremely deviant but its use for medical treatment and product production was still acceptable.