History classes have never been my thing. I was more drawn to English, journalism and social sciences in college — and yet I always knew somehow I would eventually develop a deep passion for history.
And sure enough, it happened — starting with sprawling Ken Burns documentaries, moving forward with smart history podcasts and hitting me over the head more recently via Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical theater masterpiece “Hamilton.”
In my forties, having spent my 20s and 30s rocking out in clubs and studying drug policies, I’m now exploring the roots of all these issues. As countless other people before me have done, I learn how exciting it can feel to study history. It is impossible to comprehend what’s happening now or to predict the future if you don’t know the past.
Cannabis history is a fascinating one, from ancient Chinese relics to the Anslingers and DeAngelos of the world. Many modern cannabis users are unaware of the rich history behind cannabis. Here’s an entertaining lesson about three cannabis figures you might not be familiar with.
Raymond P. Shafer
Raymond P. Shafer, the 39th Governor in Pennsylvania’s history from 1967-1971 was a son of a reverend. Prior to becoming a leader of the Republican Party, this reverend’s son was an Eagle Scout and a Yale Law graduate.
Shafer served as governor of California for two terms. After Shafer left office, Richard Nixon named him chairman of the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse. This commission was later called the Shafer Commission. And just think of the timing: Nixon was approaching peak anti-marijuana hysteria, having just signed the Controlled Substances Act, which “temporarily” categorized cannabis as Schedule I in anticipation of the Shafer Commission’s report.
But when Shafer presented the report — Marihuana – A Signal of Misunderstanding — to Congress in March 1972, the thoughtfully researched report written by politicos, physicians, psychiatrists, pharmacologists, educators and researchers actually recommended descheduling and decriminalizing cannabis.
It was an important report, and advocates of reforming drug policies applauded its rationale, sensible recommendations. Nixon, and key congressional committees ignored the report, and continued with a War on Drugs which targeted people of colour and destroyed untold numbers of lives.
Margaret Mead
Margaret Mead is a cultural anthropologist and author who was known for pioneering work (and the papers and books that resulted) in the area of the role of sexuality in primitive cultures as well the discussion surrounding intelligence and race.
Mead is the internationally-recognized academic who was the daughter of an eminent sociologist, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and the recipient of masters and PhDs from Columbia University. In addition, she served as assistant curator of the American Museum of Natural History, New York City, and the president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Mead said in 1969 to Congress marijuana should be made legal. He stated: “Marihuana does not harm unless taken excessively.” Mead said that marijuana prohibition was damaging to the country. It also damaged our laws, law enforcement, the relationship between older and younger generations, as well as the overall law.
Even in 1969 you could still speak truth to authority. Impressive.
Dennis Peron
Dennis Peron was an entrepreneur and activist best known for radically changing medical marijuana laws in California and beyond.
Peron was born in Long Island in New York. He served in Vietnam’s Air Force and supported Harvey Milk, the gay activist, in Peron’s adopted city of San Francisco.
Peron’s cannabis history is long, from his San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club — the first dispensary in the U.S. — days to unsuccessful, legalization-centric bids for California Governor and U.S. President. But Peron, known as “the father of medical cannabis,” is best-known for organizing 1991’s Proposition P in San Francisco and helping to write 1996’s Proposition 215 statewide in California, the latter of which allowed the cultivation, possession and use of medical marijuana in the state — the first time such laws had been successfully passed in the modern world.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES Who are your marijuana heroes?
Original published in print edition of Cannabis Now. Learn more
First appeared on Cannabis Now: Faces of Cannabis History – 3 Legendary Voices of Sense