# Why is pot illegal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 14, 2000, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894 "2000-10-14T15:30:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2000, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/1 "2000-10-14T15:30:25Z")
A friend of mine was telling me last night that the reason is because way back when, the paper company people lobbied against hemp because hemp produced a much better, much cheaper type of paper. Is there truth to this? ---
**Author:** ![scratch1300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@scratch1300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch1300)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2000, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/2 "2000-10-14T15:48:37Z")
There was this recent thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=41370](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=41370) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2000, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/3 "2000-10-14T16:11:27Z")
Not to mention that Cece talked about it a bit: [Is hemp a miracle plant that will solve the world’s problems?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/970131.html) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2000, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/4 "2000-10-14T16:14:39Z")
Oops, forgot to post the follow-up column: [Is hemp a miracle plant that will save the world? (cont’d)](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/970321.html) And both columns are collected into one at: [Is hemp (nonpharmacological marijuana) the answer to our environmental problems?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_131.html) ---
**Author:** ![peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peace)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2000, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/5 "2000-10-14T18:53:01Z")
I thought that hemp may or may not contain THC. And when it does, it may be more or less. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2000, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/6 "2000-10-14T19:14:45Z")
My understanding was that all cannabis contained THC to some degree, but that hemp used for fibers was (usually) treated such that if you tried to smoke or otherwise ingest it, you’d get violently ill. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/7 "2000-10-14T19:49:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by peace \* > **I thought that hemp may or may not contain THC. And when it does, it may be more or less.** The low THC content of hemp is mentioned in the question of the linked articles. However, as Cecil says: > [@](#): > > I’m sure many of the agribusiness types in the hemp coalition have never smoked a joint. But for a much larger crowd, your eco-green-save-the-whales types, hemp has become a kind of alternative vegetable. (Literally–I’ve even seen hemp recipes.) No doubt many of these people have persuaded themselves that hemp is mankind’s last hope, but don’t tell me it hasn’t occurred to a lot of them that legal hemp might be a step toward legal marijuana. One hemp shoemaker has a product out called H.I.G.H. Tops. Another, U.S. Hemp, stamps a marijuana leaf on its shoes, and owner Cathy Troutt was quoted in HempWorld as saying, “we aren’t going to lie about our feelings on marijuana.” Good for you, Cathy. Wish everybody else were as upfront. ---
**Author:** ![peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peace)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2000, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/8 "2000-10-15T01:07:34Z")
Tx, guys. It looks to me, though, that whoever makes money by manufacturing nylon and other systhetic/artificial fiber can cheaply but out potential “hempers”. ---
**Author:** ![PuRpLe\_PrIdE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c77e96/32.png) [@PuRpLe\_PrIdE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PuRpLe_PrIdE)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2000, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/9 "2000-10-15T04:46:12Z")
POT is illegal because the gverment is not cool. I know alot of people that smoke it and don’t think it should be illegal because it makes them feel good [they have a low self-esteem though]. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-\*- Nart Fack ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/10 "2000-10-17T01:07:32Z")
Thanks a bunch **PP**. That’s the kind of info I look for around here. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/11 "2000-10-17T21:29:51Z")
Because marijuana growers don’t contribute millions of dollars to major political parties. ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/12 "2000-10-17T21:40:25Z")
Because it makes you beat your wife and kids and kill people with your car. Not to mention the fact that it destroys your liver and gives you lung cancer, heart disease and emphysema. Oh, wait a minute… ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/13 "2000-10-18T03:20:06Z")
IIRC, back in the 30’s films were getting a bit too sexy/violent for the tastes of the common public, so some laws were passed to tame things in Hollywood down a bit. The result was that the only kind of film you could make at the time with any good stuff (sex & violence) in it were “warning” films about the dangers of various things… along came “Reefer Madness” and several other films pointing out the dangers of marijuana (virtually all lies!), and viola! Pot is illegal, and in the public perception, a VERY dangerous drug! That’s one of the reasons… ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-pot-illegal/36894/14 "2000-10-18T05:45:37Z")
Too much of a competitive threat to the cotton, paper, and tobacco industries, all of whom have more congressmen in their pockets?