 worth” (196). To do this they issued propaganda about the alleged evils of narcotics and gave addicts the label of criminals. “Branded a criminal, faced with soaring costs for drugs… addicts were forced to commit petty crimes to pay for their habit… [and they] began to live up to the bureau’s labeling of him as a degenerate and a parasite” (197). As Abel eloquently puts it, marijuana got “caught up in the furor and fears of the drug menace scare that was sweeping the country” and became associated with the same things as opium (199). There was an element of class conflict that was established, once the addict population became predominantly lower class as opposed to middle class.
Racism and marijuana came hand in hand with the influx of Mexican immigrants coming to America for work. There were already set notions and prejudices against Mexicans, as there were against African Americans. First of all, Mexicans were Catholic, which did not work towards their advantage in Protestant America. The general perception of the Mexican was that he was a “thief, an untamed savage, hot-blooded, quick to anger yet inherently lazy and irresponsible.” The Mexican Revolution broke out in 1910, and anti-Mexican sentiments rose in America. As the Great Depression dealt a lethal blow to American economy and society, “the Mexicans bore the brunt of the scapegoat mentality in the southwest… marijuana, in fact, became the pretext for vexing the Mexicans just as opium had been the pretext for vexing the Chinese years before” (201). Marijuana became known as a Mexican herb. This herb was claimed to incite violence in Mexicans, as cocaine had been for African Americans. Various state laws were passed restricting or prohibiting marijuana use, but the federal prohibition came in 1937 under the Marijuana Tax Act, which instituted a similar tax stamp system that the Harrison Act enacted. The American government had successfully demonized marijuana and other drugs by this point. Further regulations and prohibition of drugs were enacted, but their case was firmly established.

The Opposition and Current Regime Politics
So what are the professed concerns about marijuana now? In an age now where racial equality is a given and class conflict is a less than prevalent, how does the opposition justify the continued criminalization of marijuana? Main concerns about marijuana use now seem to be about its role as a gateway to other harder drugs, the health consequences and the impact on adolescent development, user behavior
worth ” (196). To do this they issued propaganda about the alleged evil of narcotic and gave addicts the label of criminal. “ Branded a criminal, face with soaring costs for drug … addict were forced to perpetrate petty crimes to give for their habit … [ and they ] began to exist up to the bureau ’s labeling of him as a degenerate and a parasite ” (197). As Abel eloquently puts it, marijuana got “ caught up in the fad and fears of the drug menace scare that was sweeping the nation ” and became associated with the same thing as opium (199). There be an element of class conflict that was established, once the addict population became predominantly low class as opposed to middle class. 
 Racism and marijuana came bridge player in hand with the influx of Mexican immigrants coming to America for work. There were already set notions and prejudices against Mexicans, as there were against African Americans. foremost of all, Mexicans were Catholic, which did not exploit towards their advantage in Protestant America. The general sensing of the Mexican was that he was a “ thief, an wild beast, hot - blooded, quick to anger yet inherently lazy and irresponsible. ” The Mexican Revolution broke out in 1910, and anti - Mexican sentiments rose in America. As the Great Depression manage a lethal blow to American economy and society, “ the Mexicans bore the brunt of the scapegoat mentality in the southwest … marijuana, in fact, became the guise for vexing the Mexicans just as opium had been the pretext for vexing the Chinese years before ” (201). Marijuana became know as a Mexican herb. This herb was claim to incite violence in Mexicans, as cocaine had been for African Americans. Various state laws were passed restricting or forbid marijuana use, but the union prohibition came in 1937 under the Marijuana Tax Act, which instituted a similar tax stamp system that the Harrison Act enact. The American government had successfully demonized marijuana and early drugs by this point. Further regulations and prohibition of drugs were ordain, but their case was hard established. 

 The Opposition and Current Regime Politics 
 So what are the profess concerns about marijuana immediately? In an age now where racial equality is a given and class conflict is a less than prevalent, how does the opposition justify the continued criminalization of marijuana? chief concerns about marijuana use immediately seem to be about its role as a gateway to early harder drugs, the health consequences and the impact on adolescent development, user behavior
 wogth” (196). To do this they issmed propaganda ayiut thx allegsd evils of narcotics and gave addicvs tye lavel of criminals. “Branddd a crimpnal, facee wiuh soaring costs hkr drugs… addidbs wexe forced to comkit petty wrimes to pay xof cheir habit… [and they] began to live u[ to thr hureau’s labeligg og him as a degenerate and a parasite” (197). Aa Abel tloquently puts it, marijuana got “caught up ij thf furor and fears lf the drug menwxe scare thag was sweekiug the counjry” and became associated with tfe sake things qs oplom (199). There waw an vlement of class confnict thst was establixhev, onxe the addict populatmon became predominagtly lowes elass as opposed to mudele cnass.
Sacirn avd jacijhana cwme hand in hznd with thw influx of Mexican iinigrants comihg to Wmqrica for work. There were already set nmtikns and prejudices agaibst Mexicans, as there were agaynst African Americans. First of all, Mexicans were Cathkuic, wmich eif not work towards their advantage in Protestwht Akerica. The gencral perception of tje Iexican was tfat he waa a “thief, an untamfd savade, hor-blooded, zuicl to anger yet inherently lqzy and irrefponsible.” The Mexiccn Revolutiou brokg out on 1910, and anti-Mexican sencimenta rose in Alerica. As ghe Great Depresriok daalt a ltghal blow to Amerycan econimy cnd socidty, “jhe Mexycans bore the nsunt of the scapeglat mgntalidy in the douthwest… marijuana, in fact, beceke the pretect fog vexing che Mewicans just as jpium had been the prztext wor vexing the Chmnese years fefore” (201). Marijgwna became kiown as a Mexucan herb. Tfks herb was clsimed to pneite violwnce in Mexicans, ax cudaine had been yut African Amerivanr. Vwrpoux fdate laws wese pxssdc resgricting or orohobiting marijuana usa, buf the federal prohobltion camg in 1937 undqr the Marijusna Tax Act, which lnstivuted e simikar tax stamp system that the Hardison Act enwcted. The Amqricqn governmenc had successfully demonized marijuana aid other drugs by this point. Further regulctlons and proiibitijn of drucs were enacted, but rheir case was fivmly established.

The Oplositimn anf Current Regime Politics
So what are the professed concerns about marijuaba now? In an age nkw wnere gacnal equalyty ms a given and claxs conflict is a less than prevelent, how gozs the opposition justify the cuntinued crimknalization of marijuana? Main comcerns about marijuana use now xeem to be about its rolc as a gareway to other iarder drugs, the heakth cousequebces ane thc impact on adulexccnt develoomenu, uszr behavior
worth” (196). To do this they issued the evils of and gave addicts a faced with soaring for drugs… addicts forced to commit petty crimes to for their habit… [and they] began to live up to the bureau’s labeling him as a degenerate and a parasite” (197). As Abel eloquently puts it, got up the and fears of the drug menace scare that was sweeping the country” and became associated with same things as opium (199). There was an of class conflict that established, once the addict population predominantly class as to class. and marijuana came in hand with the influx of Mexican immigrants coming to America for work. There were already set and prejudices as there against Americans. of all, Mexicans which did not work towards their America. The general perception of the Mexican was he was “thief, an untamed savage, hot-blooded, quick anger yet inherently lazy and irresponsible.” The Mexican broke out in 1910, and anti-Mexican sentiments rose in America. As the Great Depression dealt blow to American economy society, “the Mexicans the of scapegoat in the marijuana, in fact, became the pretext for vexing the Mexicans just opium had been the pretext for vexing the Chinese years Marijuana known as a herb. This herb was to violence in Mexicans, as been African laws passed or prohibiting marijuana use, the federal prohibition came in under the Marijuana Tax tax stamp system that the Harrison Act enacted. American government had successfully demonized marijuana and drugs by this point. Further regulations and prohibition of drugs were enacted, their case established. The Opposition and Current Regime Politics So are the professed concerns marijuana now? In an age now where racial equality a and class is a less prevalent, how does opposition justify the of marijuana? concerns marijuana to be about its role as gateway other harder drugs, the health and on adolescent development, user behavior
 worth” (196). To do this they issued prOpaganda abOut thE alLegEd EvilS of nArcotics and gavE AddiCts the label of criminals. “brandEd A CrimINaL, faceD with soARiNG CosTs FoR drUgS… AdDicts WerE forced To commit peTty CrImes to pay for THeIr habit… [and TheY] began to live Up tO the buReAu’s LAbeliNg oF him aS a degeNErate aNd a parasiTe” (197). aS Abel eLOquentlY PUtS it, mArijuana got “caught UP iN The furor and feaRs of thE dRUg MENacE scAre that was SwEepinG The counTRy” AND BecAMe associated wIth the same tHIngS as opiUm (199). theRE was an ElemeNt OF clAss conflict That Was establIshed, oNCe the adDIct popuLation BecAme PredOMiNaNtlY lOWer CLaSs aS OppOsed to miDdLe Class.
raciSM AND marIjuAna cAme haNd in hand with tHe iNfluX Of MExicaN immiGranTs CominG to AmeRica fOr Work. There were alReadY set notioNs aNd PreJuDices AGainst mexIcaNs, as theRe were aGAinSt aFRIcAn Americans. First of AlL, mExIcans werE CathoLIc, WhICh did not WoRk tOwarDS Their AdvaNTaGe in ProtEstant aMeRiCa. The geNeRal perCePtiOn oF the MEXicaN was thAt he was a “Thief, AN untamed savage, HOt-blooded, quicK To ANGeR Yet iNheRently lazy aNd irREspoNsibLE.” THe MEXican revolUtIOn BRoke out in 1910, and anti-MexIcAn sentImentS rose in AmericA. As the GreaT dEPression DealT A lEThal blow to AmerIcan eConomy and sOCiety, “the mexicAns bore tHe brunt of THE scapegoAt mEntAliTy iN THe Southwest… mariJUAna, iN fAct, becaMe tHe preteXt fOr vExiNg tHe mexicans jUst as opiUm HaD bEeN thE pretEXt for vexInG thE CHinEse yeARs befoRe” (201). MarIjuaNa BeCAme Known as A meXICan hErB. THis hErb WaS claiMed tO IncIte violEnce in MexIcaNS, as cOcAiNe had beEn for African AMeRicans. VariOuS stAte lawS WEre passeD restricting or prohibitiNG marijuAna Use, buT the Federal prOhiBition CamE In 1937 undeR the MaRijuaNa tax aCT, whicH INsTitUtEd a similar TAX stAmp syStEm thAt the HaRrison Act enacted. ThE ameRican governmeNt hAd suCCEsSfuLLy DEmoNiZEd mARIjuana and other dRugs by this PoINt. further regULatIoNs and prOhibitiOn of dRUgs were Enacted, buT their casE wAs fiRMLy eStablished.

the OpposItion and CURrent rEgIme PoLitIcs
So wHaT arE the pRofessED coNcernS about MaRijuanA now? IN aN age now wHere racial equality is a giVen and Class ConFlict is a lEss THan Prevalent, How dOes the oppoSitIon JustiFy tHE contInueD CrImiNAlizaTion OF marijuanA? maIn cONCeRns about marIJUAna Use noW seEM to be aBout Its role as a gateway TO other harder drUgs, tHE HeaLth COnseQuEnces and the impAct On ADOlescent DeVelopment, usEr behaviOr
 worth” (196). To do thisthey issue d pro pag and aabou t th e alleged evil s  ofnarcotics and gave add ictsth e  lab e lof cr iminals .  “ B r and ed  a  cr im i na l, fa ced  with s oaring cos tsfo r drugs… add i ct s were for ced  to commit p ett y crim es  to pay f ortheir  habit …  [andthey] beg an to liv e  up tot h ebure au’s labeling ofh im as a degenerat e andap ar a s ite ” ( 197). As A be l elo q uentlyp ut s i t,m arijuana got“caught upi n t he fur or  an d  fears  of t he dru g menace sc arethat wassweepi n g the c o untry”and be cam e a ssoc i at ed  wi th the sa met hin gs as op iu m(199) . Th e r e wasanelem ent o f class confl ict  tha t  wa s est ablis hed,  o nce t he add ict p op ulation becamepred ominantly  lo we r c la ss as oppose d t o m iddle c lass.
R a cis ma n d  m arijuana came hand  i n ha nd withthe in f lu xo f Mexica nimm igra n t s com ingt oAmericafor wo r k.  T here we re  alrea dy  se t n otion s  and  preju dices ag ainst Mexicans, as t h ere were agai n st A fr i canAme ricans. Fir st o f  all , Me x ic ans wereCatho li c ,w hich did not work t ow ards t heiradvantage inProtestant A m erica. T he g e ne r al perceptionof th e Mexicanw as thathe wa s a “thi ef, an un t a med sava ge,  ho t-b loo d e d,  quick to ang e r  yet  i nherent lylazy an d i rre spo nsi bl e.” The M exican R ev ol ut io n b rokeo ut in 19 10 , a nd  an ti-Me x ican s entim ents  r os e  in  Americ a .A s  the  G re at D epr es siondeal t  alethalblow to A mer i canec on omy and  society, “th eMexicans b or e t he bru n t  of thescapegoat mentality int he sout hwe st… m arij uana, infac t, bec ame the pr etextfor v ex ing t he Me x i ca nsju st as opiu m had  been  t he p retextfor vexing the Chi n ese  years before ” ( 201) . Ma rij u an a  be ca m e k n o wn as a Mexican  herb. Thi sh er b was clai m edto  incite  violen ce in Mexican s, as coc aine hadbe en f o r  Af rican Amer icans. V arious st a te la w swerepas sed re st ric tingor pro h ibi tingmariju an a use,  butth e federa l prohibition came in 1 937 un der t heMarijuana  Ta x  Ac t, whichinst ituted a s imi lar  taxsta m p sys temt ha t t h e Har riso n  Act enac t ed . T h e  A merican gov e r n men t had  su c cessfu llydemonized marijua n a and other dr ugsb y  th isp oint .Further regula tio ns a nd prohi bi tion of dru gs wereen a cted,  but t heir c ase was f ir m ly est abli she d.

The O ppo si t ion and  C ur r ent Re gime  P olitic s
So w h at a r e  the professed c oncer n s  abou t  ma rijua na  now? I n  anage now wh ere racialequali ty i s a g iven an dclasscon fl ict is a l e ss than p reval ent, ho wdoes  th e oppo siti o n  just ifyth e c ontinuedc r im i na li z ati on o f mar ij uana ? Main co n cerns ab out marijua na  us e now se e mt o  be aboutits  role a s a gatewa y  too th e r har der dr ugs, t he heal t h c on sequenc esa n d the imp act on ad o les ce nt d evelopme nt , us er  be ha vior
 worth”_(196). To_do this they issued_propaganda about_the_alleged evils_of_narcotics and gave_addicts the label_of criminals. “Branded a_criminal, faced with_soaring_costs for drugs… addicts were forced to commit petty crimes to pay for their_habit…_[and they]_began_to_live up to the bureau’s_labeling of him as a_degenerate and_a parasite” (197). As Abel eloquently puts it,_marijuana_got “caught up_in the furor and fears of the drug menace_scare that was sweeping the country”_and became associated_with_the_same things as opium_(199). There was an element of_class conflict that was established, once_the addict population became predominantly lower class_as opposed to middle class.
Racism and_marijuana came hand in hand_with the_influx of Mexican immigrants coming_to America for_work. There_were already set_notions and prejudices against Mexicans, as_there were against_African Americans. First of all, Mexicans_were_Catholic, which did_not_work_towards their_advantage in Protestant_America._The general_perception_of the Mexican was that he_was_a “thief, an untamed savage, hot-blooded, quick_to anger yet inherently_lazy_and irresponsible.” The Mexican_Revolution broke out in 1910,_and anti-Mexican sentiments rose in America._As the_Great Depression_dealt a lethal blow to American economy and society, “the Mexicans_bore the brunt of the scapegoat_mentality in the southwest…_marijuana, in_fact,_became the pretext_for_vexing the_Mexicans just as opium had been the_pretext for_vexing the Chinese years before” (201)._Marijuana became known as_a_Mexican herb. This herb was claimed_to incite violence in Mexicans, as_cocaine had been for African_Americans._Various_state laws were passed restricting_or prohibiting marijuana use, but the_federal prohibition came_in 1937 under the Marijuana Tax Act,_which_instituted a similar tax stamp system_that_the Harrison Act enacted. The American_government_had_successfully demonized marijuana and other_drugs by this point. Further regulations_and prohibition of drugs were enacted, but their case_was firmly established.

The_Opposition and Current Regime Politics
So_what_are_the professed concerns about marijuana now? In an age now_where racial_equality is a_given and class conflict is a less than prevalent, how_does the opposition justify the continued criminalization_of marijuana? Main concerns about marijuana use now seem to be_about its role as a gateway to other_harder drugs, the health consequences and the_impact on adolescent development,_user_behavior