Le's Site: Drug Information: Discrimination

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“The country's first drug ban explicitly targeted the opium of 'the heathen Chinee.' Cocaine
was first banned in the south to prevent an uprising of hopped-up 'cocainized Negroes.'”
- Dan Baum, The Nation

A HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION IN U.S. DRUG LAWS

November 13, 2004. Speaking in New Orleans at an international conference held
by the Harm Reduction Coalition. The theme of the panel was about how drug policy has
become a form of discrimination against youth cultures. My focus was on the rave scene.
Video footage of this speech is viewable here.
Download the PDF file for the chart below

Go here to read my school article on these cases of drug war discrimination

Time Period Group Drug Result

Late 19th century Chinese immigrants Smoked opium

Opium smoking dens popular among Chinese men are shut down.

Press report sensational stories about Chinese men luring white women into opium dens, then intoxicating and raping the women.

Importation of smoked opium regulated, at first heavily taxed, later banned altogether.

Early 20th century Southern black men Cocaine

Black male cocaine users portrayed as uncontrollable beasts with superpowers and tendency to sexually assault white women.

Special bullets adopted in the South to subdue black men under the influence of cocaine.

Southern whites succeed in pushing through federal legislation against cocaine.

1930's Mexican immigrants Marihuana

Mexican immigrants seeking work bring with them a tradition of marihuana smoking new to Americans.

Hearst newspaper company cites marihuana as cause of nationwide addiction, violence, and youth corruption.

Propagandized “Reefer Madness” airs on TV.

Hearst releases false reports of Hispanic men going psychotic, violent, and raping white women after smoking marihuana.

1960's Young hippies LSD

Growing counterculture of rebellious drug-using youths threatens conventional society and politics.

Harvard professors fired for promoting the role of LSD in psychotherapy.

LSD federally banned without scientific basis.

Exaggerated media warnings depict LSD users as psychotic, suicidal, and susceptible to rape.

1980's to Present Inner city blacks Crack

Synthesis of crack provides a new form of cocaine easy to make, quicker-acting but shorter-lasting, and cheaper to buy, making it more available and affordable for poor inner city users.

Penalties against crack possession increase by 100 times the penalties of powder cocaine possession.

Law enforcement selectively target inner city crack users who are easier to catch and arrest.

A higher percentage of blacks arrested and sentenced for crack & cocaine offenses, although the percentage of white users are proportionally the same.

Increased law enforcement and profitability of crack give rise to drug-related murders and turf wars in inner city black communities across the country.

1990's to Present Black & Latino men Marijuana

Mandatory minimum sentences for drug possession gains popularity in Washington as politicians embrace get tough on crime approach.

Marijuana arrests (about 700,000 per year) and incarceration rates (over 10% of prison population) reach an all-time high.

Non-violent drug offenses by blacks and Latinos comprise majority of prison population.

2002 study reports that more black men are going to jail than college.

Late 1990's to Present Rave & club culture Ecstasy

Media hysteria surfaces over raves and ecstasy use.

Raves and clubs across the country shut down in violation of civil right to assemble.

Legislative acts repeatedly proposed to regulate drug use by prosecuting dealers, suppliers, users, rave promoters, club managers, and property owners.

Aspects of dance culture, including music, fashion, and souvenirs, are criminalized as drug paraphernalia.

© 2005

Feel free to email me at lesliu@gmail.com for questions or feedback. WEB HOSTING GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY EDDIE CODEL

Time Period	Group	Drug	Result
Late 19th century	Chinese immigrants	Smoked opium	Opium smoking dens popular among Chinese men are shut down. Press report sensational stories about Chinese men luring white women into opium dens, then intoxicating and raping the women. Importation of smoked opium regulated, at first heavily taxed, later banned altogether.
Early 20th century	Southern black men	Cocaine	Black male cocaine users portrayed as uncontrollable beasts with superpowers and tendency to sexually assault white women. Special bullets adopted in the South to subdue black men under the influence of cocaine. Southern whites succeed in pushing through federal legislation against cocaine.
1930's	Mexican immigrants	Marihuana	Mexican immigrants seeking work bring with them a tradition of marihuana smoking new to Americans. Hearst newspaper company cites marihuana as cause of nationwide addiction, violence, and youth corruption. Propagandized “Reefer Madness” airs on TV. Hearst releases false reports of Hispanic men going psychotic, violent, and raping white women after smoking marihuana.
1960's	Young hippies	LSD	Growing counterculture of rebellious drug-using youths threatens conventional society and politics. Harvard professors fired for promoting the role of LSD in psychotherapy. LSD federally banned without scientific basis. Exaggerated media warnings depict LSD users as psychotic, suicidal, and susceptible to rape.
1980's to Present	Inner city blacks	Crack	Synthesis of crack provides a new form of cocaine easy to make, quicker-acting but shorter-lasting, and cheaper to buy, making it more available and affordable for poor inner city users. Penalties against crack possession increase by 100 times the penalties of powder cocaine possession. Law enforcement selectively target inner city crack users who are easier to catch and arrest. A higher percentage of blacks arrested and sentenced for crack & cocaine offenses, although the percentage of white users are proportionally the same. Increased law enforcement and profitability of crack give rise to drug-related murders and turf wars in inner city black communities across the country.
1990's to Present	Black & Latino men	Marijuana	Mandatory minimum sentences for drug possession gains popularity in Washington as politicians embrace get tough on crime approach. Marijuana arrests (about 700,000 per year) and incarceration rates (over 10% of prison population) reach an all-time high. Non-violent drug offenses by blacks and Latinos comprise majority of prison population. 2002 study reports that more black men are going to jail than college.
Late 1990's to Present	Rave & club culture	Ecstasy	Media hysteria surfaces over raves and ecstasy use. Raves and clubs across the country shut down in violation of civil right to assemble. Legislative acts repeatedly proposed to regulate drug use by prosecuting dealers, suppliers, users, rave promoters, club managers, and property owners. Aspects of dance culture, including music, fashion, and souvenirs, are criminalized as drug paraphernalia.