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CANNABIS OKLAHOMA | MAY 2019 19
Pioneers Of The United
Cannabis States
by Amanda Ingram
In 1980, President Reagan declares marijua- his manager stating on his identification he is
na the most dangerous drug in the United allowed to use cannabis. He was a man before
States. His wife, Nancy was on the train to his time, Louis Armstrong knew even in the
nowhere with propaganda that would help to 20s and 30s we needed this medicine, and that
make marijuana easier to see as a great prob- we needed to establish our rights. As a respect-
lem in our communities and cities. The war ed musician in his time, Louis Armstrong is a
on drugs has been real for decades, although pioneer for the people that used cannabis in the
the concentrate on the demographics for the earlier years of the United States. The United
percentages of the users has been a huge mis- States has a reputation for imprisoning men
conception. The beginning of trade lines of and women for smoking, dealing, growing and
cannabis ranging from Europe and Asia have processing cannabis. The population among
been traced before the turn of the century. the imprisoned for cannabis related cases are
Cannabis was introduced in the early 1900s predominantly African Americans, and Mex-
for the people in the coastal regions of Mexico ican Americans. This is a true travesty. I could
and Texas and New Orleans, one of the most not have obtained my medicine like so many
influential men who used cannabis regular- if we did not have the “plug” or that “mezz”
ly, and was known as someone who helped in my community. Cannabis is the reason for
to supply cannabis to the people who used lining the pockets for so many Americans
was Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow. The “Mezz” as alike, to think of the number of Americans
he was known, was a white Jewish musician sitting in prisons and jails because they didn’t
who found that cannabis would allow him to ask the government before they used, grew,
enhance his music and creativity. He found sold. Prohibition has turned into something
himself playing jazz music with very talent- that the people cannot control. We have been
ed musicians and aspired to be in their eyes told through history that this is wrong to use
accepted as a great musician. The Mezz was this plant. The men and women before us have
the “plug” for the jazz musician community. paved the way for all of races and people of
Mezzrow became better known for his drug our great nation for cannabis to become legal-
dealing than his music. In his time, he was so ized. We have to thank the pioneers of their
well known in the jazz community for selling time, the men and women of minority groups
marijuana that Mezz became slang for mari- who created history in cannabis. The men and
juana, a reference used in the Stuff Smithsong, women who have stood up for our rights are
“If You’re a Viper”. He was also known as the all the races and people of the nation, not just
Muggles King, the word muggles being slang letting the government decide who is guilty,
for marijuana at that time; the title of the 1928 who is labeled, who is going to pay for a crime
Louis Armstrong recording “Muggles” re- that should not have been considered illegal.
fers to this. Armstrong was one of his biggest We must unite in our communities and join
customers. Louis Armstrong being one of the arms in the industry, to take responsibility for
biggest advocates for marijuana in the early this plant. Take responsibility for the medicine
days of the 20s and resulted in his getting ar- we are serious about and not let any one group
rested outside a night club after a set break for or entity take the blame or burden.
smoking a joint. He always had a great respect
for the plant, and was very confused to find it
was illegal and had proclaimed he was a user
of cannabis daily. That he would inquire about
