Join comedian and skeptic Michael Regilio as he navigates the turbulent history of cannabis over 5,000 years. He exposes the deep-rooted racism in cannabis prohibition and the financial motives behind its demonization. Discover how industrial giants like DuPont influenced anti-cannabis narratives and how Nixon weaponized drug laws against political foes. Regilio also unpacks the evolving perceptions of cannabis, highlighting the importance of education and personal freedom in understanding its societal impact.
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Racist Roots of Cannabis Ban
The criminalization of cannabis in the U.S. was driven by racist fears targeting Mexican immigrants and their use of "marijuana."
This racialized branding helped demonize the plant and justify legal bans.
insights INSIGHT
Big Business Behind Prohibition
Powerful business interests like DuPont and William Randolph Hearst opposed cannabis to protect their investments.
They used political influence to criminalize cannabis despite scientific evidence.
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Nixon's Political Weed Strategy
The Nixon administration used cannabis laws to target political opponents and racial minorities.
The war on drugs aimed to disrupt anti-war activists and Black communities by falsely associating them with drugs.
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From Emperor Shen Nung to Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign, Michael Regilio unpacks 5,000 years of cannabis history on this Skeptical Sunday!
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by skeptic, comedian, and podcasterMichael Regilio!
The modern war on cannabis has deeply racist roots, beginning with targeted efforts against Mexican immigrants in the early 20th century. Officials like Harry Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, pushed explicitly racist propaganda against cannabis users, helping transform what was once widely accepted medicine into a demonized drug.
Cannabis prohibition was also driven by powerful business interests. Companies like DuPont (developing petroleum-based products like nylon and cellophane) saw hemp as a competitive threat, while William Randolph Hearst wanted to protect his paper mill investments. These business moguls leveraged political connections to criminalize cannabis despite scientific evidence of its relative safety.
The Nixon administration weaponized cannabis laws against political opponents. Nixon's domestic policy chief John Ehrlichman later admitted: "We knew we couldn't make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin ... we could disrupt those communities. ... Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did."
Cannabis interacts with our bodies through the endocannabinoid system, a biological network that helps regulate mood, energy, balance, and appetite. Our bodies naturally produce cannabinoids, but plant-derived versions like THC are approximately a thousand times more powerful. Importantly, cannabis use during pregnancy or adolescence can be harmful to developing brains, with studies linking early use to depression, anxiety, and even psychosis.
The good news? If you're over 25, moderate cannabis use appears relatively safe (unless you're predisposed to mental health issues). Today, cannabis legalization is creating positive social impacts through tax revenue funding education, environmental cleanup, and drug prevention programs, while simultaneously reducing spending on enforcement and incarceration — turning a historically problematic policy into community benefits.
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