The History Of Marijuana -- Third Installment

The History of Marijuana
Third Installment
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         The early 20th century brought recreational marijuana users some obstacles. While Mexico was still enjoying their marijuana, officials in border towns eyed marijuana users with suspicion. Marijuana use among blacks was noted during the colonial period, and Mexican field hands came north, spreading the practice of smoking marijuana to towns like El Paso, El Cajon, New Orleans, san Francisco, and other cities, like New York, Boston, and even high class cities like those in Rhode island.
         In 1914 El Paso passed a law that banned the sale or possession of marijuana. But, in New Orleans where it was still legal, black musicians were beginning to use it because it allowed them to forget the long hours, the surroundings, and the low pay, and it seemed to enhance their musical skill.
         Marijuana use among Jazz musicians went on being ignored, until the arrest of Lewis Stephens, a white musician. Stephens came to the attention of then president of the Louisiana state board of Health, Oscar Dowling. Stephens was arrested for forging a prescription for “Mariguana” and told Dowling that the drug made you “feel good.”
         Because white musicians were using the drug, Dowling used his authority of the health department and fired off letters to the governor, and the surgeon general of the United States. He was particularly adamant in his call for the federal government to take action. At that time marijuana laws was still in the hands of local legislation. Some states did prohibit non-medicinal marijuana, California surprisingly one of the first, predating Dowling's concern in 1921 by 6 years. Texas enacted laws in 1919, New York in 1927.
         But, the man largely responsible for getting the US to notice marijuana use had not yet entered the game that would make marijuana, and his name, headline news. His name was Henry J. Anslinger, the crusader against marijuana.