Quote:
Originally posted by 33girl:
Did you see the series on History Channel called "Hooked: Illegal Drugs and How They Got That Way." One of the things they pointed out was that (really boiling this down to basics) cocaine and opium were outlawed primarily because of prejudices against certain groups.
|
I didn't see the show...but I am taking a class on urban politics this semester, and this was how the professor introduced the course. He mentioned that marijuana and opium were drugs that were connected to two specific racial groups (Mexicans and Chinese, respectively). The propaganda surrounding these drugs was racial in tone--many said that if these drugs continued to be legal, that Mexicans and Chinese men would seduce white women while they were under the influence. I believe that most of the drug criminalization is primarily racial in tone--and I'm not a person who calls things "racist" or "prejudiced" that often. Does anyone agree/disagree with me? I think this would make for a fairly lively discussion.
That said, I also believe in the decriminalization of marijuana. Yes, it is a "gateway drug", but so is boredom. Anyway, it cannot be categorized in the same way as karmically more dangerous drugs like heroin or crack, or even LSD.
Threaded Mode