{I wanted to get this down while it was still relatively fresh.
back in the day I used to wonder and fret a lot about the incredibly severe proscriptions around herb. weed. marijuana. the taboos and cruel punishments for what was basically, or seemed to be, a euphoric toxin of the strength and danger level of beer.
then today it occurred to me that it was the criminality itself. by keeping it seriously illegal they opened up a wealth of manipulative possibilities. especially in the early days of the American Cultural Revolution, or whatever you want to call that period of time between 1963 and 1973.
by keeping it illegal, and at the same time allowing or even encouraging its underground growth, they created a population of coercible recruits. and it was among the so-called 'early adopters' the experimentals, the pioneer children, those guys. intelligent kids.
so bingo, 'you're busted! but hey if you want to co-operate, maybe just keep us 'informed' you know...', or 'we have these "classes" you can take.'
who knows really. but think about it. fairly innocent sheltered privileged kids slammed from Friday night parties onto the threshold of 15 year prison sentences, and it's the law, the 'agency' involved could almost seem helpful, sympathetic, concerned, offering alternatives, ways out of the maze, a chance to make it through, to have a life, after you lost the other one.[my own 'case' was of course substantially different, I wasn't busted for herb until the early 80's, after it had long become clear I wasn't capable of collaboration]}

posted by Juke at 8:56 AM [edit]