Why was cannabis ever made illegal in the first place?
There are lots and lots of urban legends and rumors surrounding this impetus of the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act, including pressure from pharmaceutical companies and the paper industry. Although these industries benefited from the act, there's no real evidence that these were the primary factors. In r…
The Short Answer
There are lots and lots of urban legends and rumors surrounding this impetus of the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act, including pressure from pharmaceutical companies and the paper industry. Although these industries benefited from the act, there's no real evidence that these were the primary factors. In reality, the association of pot with a particular ethnic group was to blame. In the case of pot, the drug was associated with Mexican immigrants, notoriously conveyed in the fact that marijuana, with the silent 'j', became prominent around this time in an effort to associate the drug with the Spanish language, when previously it was often spelled 'marihuana'. Read some very interesting information [here](_URL_0_).
Analysis
Key Concepts: Lots, drug, urban
This explanation focuses on lots, drug, urban and spans 111 words across 5 sentences. At 54% above the average Society explanation (72 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “There are lots and lots of urban legends and rumors surrounding this impetus of the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act, including pr” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.
How This Compares in Society
Ranked #113 of 500 Society questions by answer depth (top 23%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why cannabis ever made illegal in the first place?
There are lots and lots of urban legends and rumors surrounding this impetus of the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act, including pressure from pharmaceutical companies and the paper industry. Although these industries benefited from the act, there's no real…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Society questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 111 words, ranked #113 of 500 Society questions by depth. The key concepts covered are lots, drug, urban.
What approach does this answer take to explain cannabis ever made illegal in the first place?
The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 111 words. It is categorized under Society and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.