This document discusses the history of drug use and criminalization in the United States. It traces the origins and popularity of various drugs like marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, LSD, and heroin. It notes that drug use has a long history but was criminalized starting in the 1930s. It also discusses the war on drugs declared by presidents Nixon, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton and the resulting mass incarceration. The document argues that drug use should be decriminalized and legalized instead of criminalized.

1. Criminology: My Thoughts
By: Tethena Moore

3. • Criminal behavior is learned
• Conflicts in society contributes to
what is defined criminal by law

5. Marijuana
 Grown by the Jamestown settlers around
1600
 Before Civil War, was the major source of
revenue for the U.S.
 Widely used as a medicinal drug from
1850 to 1937
 Was purchased over the counter in
pharmacies and general stores
 Studies began in 1930s linking marijuana
use by lower class communities and
crime and violence banning it in 1937

6. Methamphetamine
 Began popular in the medical community
in 1920s
 Used for stimulating the central nervous
system, raising blood pressure, and
enlarging nasal passages
 Distributed to soldiers during World War
II to help with fatigue and improve
edurance and mood
 Abuse began during the 1930s when it
became an over-the-counter inhalant

7. Cocaine
 In 1886, “Coca-Cola” was introduced and
contained syrup derived from coca leaves
 Same year Surgeon General of U.S. Army
endorsed medical use of cocaine
 The next few decades various
unregulated medicinal
tonics were sold containing cocaine
 Hollywood silent movies depicted scenes
of cocaine
 By 1902 there were an estimates 200,000
cocaine addicts in the U.S.
 Was outlawed in 1914

8. Crack Cocaine
 A form of cocaine that is sold and smoked
 First appeared in large U.S. cities in 1985
 Became a popular alternative to cocaine
in urban working-class areas because it
was cheaper
 Was an epidemic in the 1980s

9. LSD
 Emerged during 1950s and 1960s as
mental health professionals and research
paricipants began to distribute the drug
among their friends.
 Only available through connections to
medical field until 1962, black market
emerged in America
 Made illegal in 1966
 Became drug of choice amongst hippies
during mid to late 1960s

10. Herion
 Was popular throughout the 19th century,
among upper-and middle-class women
 Practice of smoking opium was
introduced in the 1850s and 1860s by
Chinese laborers
 First Wave- Widely used during American
Civil War as a pain reliever
 Second Wave- During the Vietnam War
among soldiers abroad
 Users began smoking and snorting herion
after improvements were made in the
purity of street herion in 1980s and 1990s

11. If it is illegal why
participate in those
behaviors?
Drug abuse just started about
50 years ago.
Mass incarceration of the
black race due to selling
drugs is breaking up family
homes.

12. 3 types of Theories:

14. US Government Criminalizing Drug Use
• Drug use and abuse has a long history in the U.S.
• President Nixon declared the war on drugs stating “America’s public
enemy number one in the United States is Drug abuse”
• President Carter called for decriminalization of marijuana
• President Reagan redeclared the war on drugs focusing initiatives on
“getting tough” on drugs
• Clinton continued the war on drugs with his policies that led to mass
incarceration and privatized prisons

15. Decriminalize and Legalize Drugs!!!!

16. References:
Schmalleger, F. (2014). Criminology Second Edition. Upper Saddler, New
Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.
The United States War on Drugs: Stafford Univeristy. Retrieved from
https://web.standford.edu/class/e297c/poverty_prejudice/paradox/htele.
html