Marijuana Prohibition

I have never used any illegal drugs, and don't plan to use any in the future. I have read many studies that show that there are some beneficial uses for marijuana and I have observed many users of marijuana. I have never seen or heard of someone under the influence of marijuana commit any violent acts. Contrary to popular belief, people do spend years in prison for possession of marijuana. I know someone who did. I have heard that small amounts of ingested marijuana help people with "ADHD" to calm down. I know one guy who was a violent bully for years, then started using marijuana and mellowed out and became a nice guy. I think most people, like myself, will not start using mind altering substances just because they are legal. I have chronic pain as a result of several accidents. One of which involved a police officer who was under the influence of alcohol while on duty who crashed his cruiser into the van I was a passenger in, totaling both vehicles and severely injuring several members of my family, including my father, who died before my mom got the 5 figure compensation check from the insurance company. The officer wasn't punished for his actions because he was protected by his status. While I've been told that marijuana would probably help with my chronic pain, I just take the prescription drugs that my doctor prescribed, one of which I'm told is probably eroding the lining of my stomach. The other prescription medicines I'm prescribed I usually only take when the pain is too great to sleep at night or when the pain is excruciating, even though I'm allowed to take them more often, and include a muscle relaxer and codeine. I was once given morphine to treat severe pain, but I didn't like the way it made me feel so I refused to allow anyone to give it to me again. I have also been prescribed Demerol, which is a very effective pain reliever in sufficient quantity that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling, makes me cheerful regardless of the situation, and removes some inhibitions. When I felt that I didn't need it anymore for pain relief, I took myself off it and tossed the remaining pills in the trash. I am certain that marijuana is less harmful than morphine. My father had some really bad side effects from the morphine that doctors gave him.
Alcohol is unlikely to be prohibited again partly because we learned that a government enforced "cure" causes more harm than the "disease", and partly because many cops and politicians like to drink alcohol after (and sometimes during) work. After alcohol prohibition was ended, a lot of revenuers found themselves without work, so they lobbied congress to restrict something else. "Nonsporting" guns and marijuana seemed like easy targets, (resulting in the ATF and Federal Bureau of Narcotics) so federal agents including members of the newly formed Federal Bureau of Narcotics started a media campaign to promote heavy restrictions on these items. Reefer Madness and other forms of propaganda were funded by federal agents with tax dollars. Newspapers in 1934 editorialized: "Marihuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men's shadows and look at a white woman twice." Harry J. Anslinger, the director of the Bureau of Narcotics also promoted his "Gore Files" which he touted as evidence that marijuana causes people to become violent and used to persuade the legislature to appropriate more funds for his agency. Later evidence proved that he made up at least some of the stories. There is no proof that any of his stories were true. In his stories, he said things like the following:
"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others."
"...the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races."
"Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death."
"Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men."
"Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing"
"You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother."
"Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind."

Dupont Chemical Company pushed for the prohibition because they wanted to get rid of the competition for their newly patented nylon. Pharmaceutical companies pushed for the prohibition of marijuana because patients could just grow their own, and didn't have to buy their medicine from the pharmaceutical companies. The police who want marijuana to remain illegal do so because the prohibition provides many easy good paying glorified jobs rounding up plants and imprisoning pacified users at the expense of civilians.

Those who want marijuana to be illegal are either benefiting financially from its prohibition or have been fooled by the government and corporate propaganda and other lies.
Wanna know who was opposed to marijuana prohibition? The AMA (American Medical Association)