[squatter420]

When Montana outlawed marijuana in 1927, the Butte Montana Standard reported a legislator's comment: "When some beet field peon takes a few traces of this stuff... he thinks he has just been elected president of Mexico, so he starts out to execute all his political enemies."

Marijuana prohibition was really just anti-Mexican racism in the beginning. It's a lesson in why racism is wrong. It hurts everybody.

It would be interesting to try to have anti-marijuana laws repealed on the basis that they are impermissible due to being a form of institutionalized racism. Though they have been broadened to include all races the original intent is to single out one group and that is illegal. Hippies are another identified group that may not be discriminated against (Food stamp case) and it can reasonably be shown that the next wave of anti-marijuana legislation was targeting this group, again perhaps impermissibly. Are we now all equally protected or equally shunned? Does broadening the sanction just compound the original error or relieve the original victims? The latter in my mind.

Very interesting Squatter. It never ceases to amaze me how many laws in this country started off as racism: gun control, voting, education, share cropping, etc.etc all have racist roots.

It is unfortunate that the majority of these laws have been written to abuse ("protect") all people in the US. I'm thinking that in order to repeal the law, we basically need to reteach our children to think for themselves, not how the government indoctrinates them to think in school. A faster way would be to use political elections friendly to the cause, however the media makes this very difficult (ie. ron paul).

At least the medical movement is a start. One step at a time, as long as we ensure that we don't lose ground (ie. correctional ban). I for one am glad to have people like you who are involved and willing to take a stand.

[sidetrack]

montana got rid of even the natural grow of marjuana early in state hood. mary jane grew naturaly here. sidetrack

[HBMT]

yer a info tornado !!!! thanx HB

[squatter420]

If drugs weren't illegal there would be few to no drug crimes. They only have such a high value and thus the crime associated with drugs because they are illegal.