Sunday, September 1, 2013

Prohibition and It's After Effects. What did our Government learn? (Origins)

Over the course of the last few years, marijuana has been becoming more accepted and legalized in many states for medicinal use and more recently for recreational use. Now I ran across a video about a 5 year old boy being given medicinal marijuana for a seizure disorder. And it sparked a thought. Why is marijuana really illegal? I've read several different accounts that speak of it being a way to control the Mexican population in the west to blacks in the south and east.

I think it was because our government learned a little something from Prohibition. Or should I say from the criticism of prohibition that made them start rubbing their greedy little hands together. So for the next few days I am going to present my case starting with the Prohibition of Alcohol that was implemented by the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act in 1919.

And yes this will be a history lesson with my own little twist. So let's see how far down this rabbit hole you will follow. First we need to look at a small little minority of people in this country that formed the Anti-Saloon League. Here's a little of what Wikipedia had to say about them. And from what I remember from my history classes, this sounds about right. Now I ask, does it have a modern day equivalent?

The Anti-Saloon League was the leading organization lobbying for prohibition in the United States in the early 20th century. It was a key component of the Progressive Era, and was strongest in the South and rural North, drawing heavy support from pietistic Protestant ministers and their congregations, especially Methodists, Baptists, Disciples andCongregationalists.[1] It concentrated on legislation, and cared about how legislators voted, not whether they drank or not. Founded as a state society in Oberlin, Ohio in 1893, its influence spread rapidly. In 1895 it became a national organization and quickly rose to become the most powerful prohibition lobby in America, pushing aside its older competitors theWoman's Christian Temperance Union and the Prohibition Party. Its triumph was nationwide prohibition locked into the Constitution with passage of the 18th Amendment in 1920.

So lets explore that for a moment. Harken back to the '20s. You all have read or seen "The Great Gatsby". You've heard them referred to as the "Roaring '20s". Why do you think that was? Because of Mrs. O'leary's Cow?

No, it was because of the way people partied. You see when Eighteenth amendment was on the verge of being passed, the rich and powerful bought up all the alcohol in the country. You see, you can have it for private consumption, but when it was all gone, no more could ever be made. So they could hold these elaborate parties and serve alcohol. I can't be the only one to have seen "Auntie Mame". If they didn't have a private stash, they knew a man who new a man, if you know what I am saying. 

This was when one can say that the "caste" system can truly be viewed. You see, as long as you had it you could drink it. But you couldn't make any more and if you did, woe be onto you. You were arrested and sent to prison, unless you were able to get in on the black market. And this is where the fun begins. 

Part II Rise of the SPEAKEASIES. Coming soon.



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