[420 Girl]

It is amazing how ridiculous lies, propaganda and political opportunism still affect attitudes about marijuana. The pot laws were passed based on the most absurd racist fictions:

"Marihuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men's shadows and look at a white woman twice." ( Hearst newspapers nationwide, 1934. )

"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S., and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana can cause white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others."

"Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality and death."

"[Smoking] one [marihuana] cigarette might develop a homicidal mania, probably to kill his brother." ( See U.S. Government Propaganda To Outlaw Marijuana -- Statement of H. J. Anslinger, Commissioner of Narcotics. )

Not one of these claims meets the standards of modern science, medicine or social knowledge. Indeed these Reefer Madness claims are generally rejected by the public. People are denied medical care, jobs are lost and yes, people are being jailed because of these odious lies. Nevertheless, legislators refuse to set the record straight by repealing policies that harm the public far more than any amount of marijuana use could ever do.

The absurdity of employment policies is that the victim of a pot law does not need to be under the influence of the drug to be fired. Merely using the drug off work can be detected for days or weeks. No impairment of any kind is needed.

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/in...d-fiction.html