So why is Marijuana illegal?

Being the world's most widely used illicit drug has a lot of connotations to it. Since the world is a "completely rational" place, there must be real logical facts that make it illegal. Well in reality the legality of Marijuana has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it’s dangerous or bad for people. Since technically both Cigarettes and Alcohol have both killed millions more then that of cannabis. If the government was worried about the public’s health it would make those illegal as well. Yet in reality the government is influence by big business and racism then thought. As many Mexican immigrants came to the U.S after the Mexican revolution, they introduced the idea of smoking cannabis for recreational use. As racist attitudes increased against these people during the depression, many states began passing laws against Marijuana because of the racist attitudes. Even the Head of Narcotics Department, Henry Anslinger, was quoted saying “There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers," he said. "Their satanic music, jazz and swing result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others.” Nothing in there has to do with the dangers of its effects on health, or the economy. Instead, it was made illegal because of racial prejudice. Yet when all the other laws made from racial prejudice was repealed, including the Jim Crow laws, one was left out. Why, one might ask, was it not repealed, because the stigma behind smoking marijuana stuck, and it grew to encompass a wide range of people from “hippies” to “dead-beats”. In reality there is no real proof that marijuana is worse for people then cigarettes. What is true is that there is a huge market for it, and since the government is just a business, it is just stupid to pass up an opportunity for a new item to tax. It could easily bring the country out of the depression, since around 42% of Americans have at least tried it. So instead of keeping a law made from racial prejudice, both the people and the government should wise up and let marijuana bring this country back from this depression.