Sgt Stadanko?
Posted on 11/05/2005 7:23:51 PM PST by Graybeard58
Offenders got more than token citations in Denver
On Oct. 2, 1937, in the somewhat shady Lexington Apartments at 1200 California St. in Denver, Samuel R. Caldwell became the first person in the United States to be arrested on a marijuana charge. Caldwell, a 58-year-old unemployed laborer moonlighting as a dealer, was nailed by the FBI and Denver police for peddling two marijuana cigarettes to one Moses Baca, 26.
If you're wondering why it took the U.S. government so long to bust a pot dealer, it's because until the Marijuana Stamp Act was passed - on you guessed it, Oct. 2, 1937 - cannabis wasn't illegal. Certainly, it had been vilified in newspapers with headlines such as "Murder Weed Found Up and Down Coast: Deadly Marijuana Plant Ready for Harvest That Means Enslavement of California Children."
Neither was it deemed as some benign recreational drug by the nation's law enforcement hierarchy.
Harry J. Anslinger, for example, commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, was a vociferous foe of cannabis. In his book, Assassin of Youth, he labeled marijuana "dangerous as a coiled rattlesnake," and anguished, "How many murders, suicides, robberies, criminal assaults, holdups, burglaries, and deeds of maniacal insanity it causes each year, especially among the young, can be only conjectured."
Indeed. Texas cops insisted that because it fueled a "lust for blood" and imbued its imbibers with "superhuman strength," pot was the catalyst for unspeakably violent crimes.
Anslinger and many others would have dismissed the possibility that, 68 years later, Denver's law-abiding citizens would vote to decriminalize the possession of an ounce-or-less of marijuana as nothing more than a pipe dream.
Much more real was the racism that anchored some of the original hysteria surrounding cannabis. At least that's a contention of John C. McWilliams, a professor of history at Penn State University specializing in 20th century social-political American history and drug policy, who has written a book on Anslinger.
"Marijuana was associated with black jazz musicians and Mexicans in border towns - clearly racist stuff," said McWilliams, who says Anslinger's files are chock full of letters linking marijuana and minorities.
In fact, he cites part of a 1936 correspondence from Floyd Baskett, editor of the Daily Courier in Alamosa.
"I wish I could show you what a small marijuana cigarette does to one of our degenerate, Spanish-speaking residents," Baskett wrote to Anslinger.
Certainly District Judge J. Foster Symes didn't need convincing about the nefarious effects of the "murder weed." In a dizzying swirl of law enforcement, Caldwell and Baca were busted on a Wednesday night, indicted on Thursday (they pleaded guilty) and sentenced on Friday.
"I consider marijuana the worst of all narcotics, far worse than the use of morphine or cocaine," thundered Symes from the bench. "Under its influence, men become beasts, just as was the case with Moses Baca . . .
"Marijuana destroys life itself. I have no sympathy with those who sell this weed. I will impose the heaviest penalties. The government is going to enforce this new law to the letter."
Then Symes backed up his tough talk by sentencing Caldwell to four years' hard labor at Kansas' mighty Leavenworth Prison.
And just to show Caldwell he was no softy, Symes tacked on the astronomical fine of $1,000.
However, Baca, beast though he may have become, got off relatively easy. Maybe Symes' wrath had been sated somewhat: he sentenced the married father of three to a mere 18 months in prison.
And if you're thinking there was any plea bargaining or reduced time for good behavior, both men served every single day of their sentence. Although history is unclear about what happened to Baca, Caldwell died a year after he was released from prison.
So great was the government's indignation over marijuana that it didn't seem to matter that, as McWilliams points out, "Marijuana is not even a narcotic."
And so, today, as proponents of Denver's Initiative 100 celebrate, it seems only fitting that they should perhaps pause, take a deep breath, and reflect upon the sad saga of Sam Caldwell.
I have zero pity for any drug dealer.
Well, pot can certainly be abused. You should not be impaired by anything (legal or not) when driving. I don't nitpick over what people do in the privacy of their own homes as long as they don't hurt others. With that said though, heavy drug use or drinking does not enhance ones life skills or career advancement.All things in moderation. Like the Good Book says.
I'm betting its pretty hot where ol' Harry J. is spending his eternal rest.
No mention of that infamous 1937 propaganda movie "Reefer Madness." Ahhhh yes, it used to play from time to time at high school and college campuses during the 70's as a joke film. And, of course, the theatres would fill up with pot smoke as the crazed youth smoked the evil weed and cackled with laughter at such a ridiculous movie.
After booze became legal again they had to criminalize pot just to keep jobs.
Because he had some screwy ideas about marijuana?
Sgt Stadanko?
Because he railroaded his screwy ideas into an unjust law, and ruined countless lives.
Selling drugs for profit, should be a felony with harsh penalties. I would go as far as the death penalty, for manufacturing or selling the hard drugs that are now illegal. Society needs to structure it so that the ones that profit, lose their lives, while the ones that get caught up in it as users, get treatment(for crank, heroin or crack). Have some form of flexible sentencing, so they MUST turn in their pusher, or serve a long long sentence. If they are bottom of the chain, mandatory treatment, top or middle, a sentence that befits them. Of course if a user is caught a second time, treatment then prison.
My son is into crank right now, he is a 31 YO piece of horse dung. He got out of prison for manufacturing after a 6 month sentence. The day he got out, he was using. He was caught with the makings of the stuff within a year, with loaded weapons in the car....a stolen car at that. Guess what? He is still waiting trial, it has been about 6 months since his first arrest, and has been arrested once more with the same charges (weapon, and makings)....this system is tough ya know......Why even have laws if there is no teeth?
No more Walgreens for you then!
What are you smoking?!! This post is about a law that was passed in Denver during the past week, not 70 years ago.
I'm sorry for your son, but, in a way, he is a product of the entire problem and it all starts with 'soft' drugs. I repeat, zero pity for drug dealers.
It all starts with the legal drugs tobacco and alcohol. Do you support banning them?
Isn't that special -- NOT!
How many times have you turned your son into the police for his drug activities? How many people has your son committed acts of violence against? Has anything been done so that his victims get restitution for their pain and suffering? How much education-rehabilitation has been offered him?
Marijuana -- the gate way drug. Apparently the gateway is to prohibition of some drugs and a gateway to WOsomeD.
<< I have zero pity for any drug dealer. >>
Me too.
And that is every criminal drug dealer's and/or user's just due.
But my strongest imaginable contempt, scorn, derision and loathing is reserved for the perpetrators of the only deservedly capital crime insofar as drug production, distribution, sale and useage is concerned;
For the deservedly capital crime that has seen to the transfer of imense wealth and power to the world's most evil -- and has seen to that politically and bureaucratically-enrichened and empowered most evil's consequential criminalization of several generations and to the total destruction of much of our nation's youth and culture.
My strongest imaginable contempt, scorn, derision and loathing is reserved, that is, for the perpetrators and perpetuators of the deservedly-capiital crime called prohibition.
Most stoners I ever met could hardly summon the gumption to murder a bag or Doritos.
What an idiotic statement.
Anybody with any even a minimal contact with any of these drugs knows this is absurd.
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