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One thing that wasn't mention by the article is that drug prohibition is (at least partly) based on racist beliefs[0], here is a famous quote from Harry Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (an early predecessor of the DEA):

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 causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others. [...] its effect on the degenerate races.

[0]http://io9.com/anti-marijuana-laws-were-based-on-racism-not-...

This is terribly hilarious -- thanks for sharing.

I also recommend the informative yet also humorous 1999 documentary Grass, which covers the early history of cannabis prohibition in the United States quite well: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0214730/

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