The madness of reefer madness reaches fever pitch. This episode we hear how Harry J. Anslinger gets a clever idea from the "machine gun ban" to devise a truly ridiculous mode of licencing cannabis. This ensures he is able to convince Congress to pass the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937.

To secure a licence, one must have cannabis in hand. To have done so, is to breach licencing conditions and be charged with illegal possession. Once a criminal, further thoughts of obtaining a licence are pointless. Penalties involve a maximum sentence of five years jail and a $2,000 fine. The first offender arrested is sentenced to four years and a $1,000 fine for possession.

One of illicit drug laws earlist skeptics and defender of secular values and human rights, Dr. William Woodward of the American Medical Association testifies to the USA Congress that no evidence exists to support Anslingers outrageous claims of the "dirty, dangerous" drug he has described. Indeed, the "Assassin of Youth" [marijuana]. Dr. Woodward is considered a sheer party pooper, abused and dismissed out of hand. Incredibly thanks to John Howards predetermined agenda and Drug Free Australia, Australians witnessed the same in 2007 when the Chair of a Parliamentary Inquiry, Bronwyn Bishop, slandered internationally renowned researchers as "immoral drug industry elites".

The mayor of New York comissions a "blue ribbon" study to examine Anslingers claims of evidence only to find also, none exists. The cannabis used and examined came from Anslinger himself. This leads to a suppression of scientific research on medicinal cannabis and cannabis abuse that remains until today.

The law is overturned, for obvious reasons, in the late 1960s thanks to Timothy Leary tuning in before he dropped out. Cannabis is then outlawed in 1970, having "no medical purpose". We pick up where we left off in part one, listening to David Musto of Yale University recount discussions with Anslinger over his feelings of hopelessness and ultimately successful planning.

Finally we touch on the issue of cannabis induced psychosis and supporting evidence - the topic of the next episode.

More articles of interest are in the ever growing pile here.

Gags,
26MB, 58min, 57