This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/05/nyregion/new-york-today-marijuana-history.html
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| New York Today: A Cultural History of Marijuana | New York Today: A Cultural History of Marijuana |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning on this brightening Monday. | Good morning on this brightening Monday. |
| Will New York be the next state to legalize marijuana? Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s 2018 budget plan calls for a study of the pros and cons. | Will New York be the next state to legalize marijuana? Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s 2018 budget plan calls for a study of the pros and cons. |
| If legal weed comes to New York City, it would finally achieve legitimacy in a place with a long, mixed record of tolerance and crackdowns. Here’s a quick spin through the cultural history of pot here. | If legal weed comes to New York City, it would finally achieve legitimacy in a place with a long, mixed record of tolerance and crackdowns. Here’s a quick spin through the cultural history of pot here. |
| • In the 1930s, as authorities nationwide waged war on “reefer madness,” a doctor at the Manhattan Detention Complex urged treatment, not incarceration, for the city’s marijuana “addicts,” including jazz musicians who “find it necessary to take it before playing.” | • In the 1930s, as authorities nationwide waged war on “reefer madness,” a doctor at the Manhattan Detention Complex urged treatment, not incarceration, for the city’s marijuana “addicts,” including jazz musicians who “find it necessary to take it before playing.” |
| • Pot moved out of jazz clubs and marginalized communities and into mainstream (read: white) culture with the help of the Beat authors. Jack Kerouac, according to his first wife, took his first hit from the saxophonist Lester Young at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem in the early 1940s. | • Pot moved out of jazz clubs and marginalized communities and into mainstream (read: white) culture with the help of the Beat authors. Jack Kerouac, according to his first wife, took his first hit from the saxophonist Lester Young at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem in the early 1940s. |
| • The New York Academy of Medicine’s 1944 La Guardia report, commissioned by the mayor, debunked the myth of the murderous marijuana fiend. Researchers found that a typical smoker “readily engages in conversation with strangers, discussing freely his pleasant reactions to the drug and philosophizing on subjects pertaining to life in a manner which, at times, appears to be out of keeping with his intellectual level.” | • The New York Academy of Medicine’s 1944 La Guardia report, commissioned by the mayor, debunked the myth of the murderous marijuana fiend. Researchers found that a typical smoker “readily engages in conversation with strangers, discussing freely his pleasant reactions to the drug and philosophizing on subjects pertaining to life in a manner which, at times, appears to be out of keeping with his intellectual level.” |
| • By 1950, cannabis plants grew as tall as Christmas trees in vacant lots and underpasses in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. But a 1951 eradication effort yanked up 41,000 pounds of the plant. | • By 1950, cannabis plants grew as tall as Christmas trees in vacant lots and underpasses in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. But a 1951 eradication effort yanked up 41,000 pounds of the plant. |
| • One of the first pro-pot marches took place outside the New York Women’s House of Detention in Greenwich Village in 1965, spearheaded by Allen Ginsberg. | • One of the first pro-pot marches took place outside the New York Women’s House of Detention in Greenwich Village in 1965, spearheaded by Allen Ginsberg. |
| • And in the late ’80s the underground “green aid” movement, a forerunner to legal medical marijuana, supplied ganja to AIDS patients to ease the effects of the harsh drugs given to patients at the time. | • And in the late ’80s the underground “green aid” movement, a forerunner to legal medical marijuana, supplied ganja to AIDS patients to ease the effects of the harsh drugs given to patients at the time. |
| “There’s no question: New York has played a very important role, historically, as a location for the cannabis phenomenon in the United States,” said Martin A. Lee, the author of “Smoke Signals” and the director of Project CBD, a nonprofit that publicizes research on medical uses of cannabis. | “There’s no question: New York has played a very important role, historically, as a location for the cannabis phenomenon in the United States,” said Martin A. Lee, the author of “Smoke Signals” and the director of Project CBD, a nonprofit that publicizes research on medical uses of cannabis. |
| • The city cracked down again in the 1990s under Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, whose aggressive policing tactics, like stop-and-frisk, disproportionately affected blacks and Latinos and made New York the pot arrest capital of America. | • The city cracked down again in the 1990s under Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, whose aggressive policing tactics, like stop-and-frisk, disproportionately affected blacks and Latinos and made New York the pot arrest capital of America. |
| • Mayor Bill de Blasio — who toked as an N.Y.U. undergrad — promised to cut back on marijuana arrests, but they have barely budged and racial disparities persist. | • Mayor Bill de Blasio — who toked as an N.Y.U. undergrad — promised to cut back on marijuana arrests, but they have barely budged and racial disparities persist. |
| “Culturally, New York has been way out ahead of the law when it comes to cannabis,” Mr. Lee said. “But politically, New York is certainly not a pioneer or a profile in courage. Now, it’s more toward the caboose instead of the front of the train.” | “Culturally, New York has been way out ahead of the law when it comes to cannabis,” Mr. Lee said. “But politically, New York is certainly not a pioneer or a profile in courage. Now, it’s more toward the caboose instead of the front of the train.” |
| Here’s what else is happening: | Here’s what else is happening: |
| Welcome to your workweek. The skies will clear this morning, but a cold breeze is blowing and the temperature will drop and hover around freezing. | |
| Things get messy again on Wednesday. | Things get messy again on Wednesday. |
| • Years of investigation into the corruption allegations against Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey unraveled over a two-week span in January. [New York Times] | • Years of investigation into the corruption allegations against Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey unraveled over a two-week span in January. [New York Times] |
| • An ex-Albany insider turned star witness in the bribery case against a former senior aide to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is expected to tell all in court, but many say his word can’t be trusted. [New York Times] | • An ex-Albany insider turned star witness in the bribery case against a former senior aide to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is expected to tell all in court, but many say his word can’t be trusted. [New York Times] |
| • Forced to leave Puerto Rico, a man who suffers from anxiety and depression found comfort in sharing his possessions with others who had to flee the island post-Hurricane Maria. [New York Times] | • Forced to leave Puerto Rico, a man who suffers from anxiety and depression found comfort in sharing his possessions with others who had to flee the island post-Hurricane Maria. [New York Times] |
| • The owner of a vintage clothing store is being forced to move it because of developing high-rises in Long Island City — the second time residential developments pushed her out. [New York Times] | • The owner of a vintage clothing store is being forced to move it because of developing high-rises in Long Island City — the second time residential developments pushed her out. [New York Times] |
| • A church in New Jersey honored four chaplains who gave their life vests to others as their military transport ship was sinking during World War II. [New York Times] | • A church in New Jersey honored four chaplains who gave their life vests to others as their military transport ship was sinking during World War II. [New York Times] |
| • As Black History Month shines a spotlight on African-American culture, a deeper look reveals that many stories go untold. These photographs begin to tell them. [New York Times] | • As Black History Month shines a spotlight on African-American culture, a deeper look reveals that many stories go untold. These photographs begin to tell them. [New York Times] |
| • A security guard at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum is being charged with trafficking firearms. [New York Times] | • A security guard at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum is being charged with trafficking firearms. [New York Times] |
| • New Jersey lawmakers are debating proposed legislation to ban menthol cigarettes, which would make it the first state to do so. [CBS New York] | • New Jersey lawmakers are debating proposed legislation to ban menthol cigarettes, which would make it the first state to do so. [CBS New York] |
| • Governor Cuomo signed an executive order that bans state agencies from doing business with companies that “promote or tolerate discrimination.” [New York Daily News] | • Governor Cuomo signed an executive order that bans state agencies from doing business with companies that “promote or tolerate discrimination.” [New York Daily News] |
| • A carriage horse that was startled by a toppling umbrella along Central Park crashed into two parked cars, injuring its three passengers. [New York Post] | • A carriage horse that was startled by a toppling umbrella along Central Park crashed into two parked cars, injuring its three passengers. [New York Post] |
| • Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “Kiss on the Platform” | • Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “Kiss on the Platform” |
| • For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Morning Briefing. | • For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Morning Briefing. |
| • The once-banned 1973 film “The Spook Who Sat By the Door,” about a black C.I.A.-agent-turned-militant, screens at BAM Rose Cinemas in Brooklyn. 4:30 and 9:30 p.m. [$15] | |
| • The New York Times’s chief dance critic, Alastair Macaulay, talks about the choreographers Frederick Ashton and George Balanchine at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts near Lincoln Center. 6 p.m. [Free, reservation required] | • The New York Times’s chief dance critic, Alastair Macaulay, talks about the choreographers Frederick Ashton and George Balanchine at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts near Lincoln Center. 6 p.m. [Free, reservation required] |
| • A blues concert by Valerie June will be held at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. 6:30 p.m. [Free] | • A blues concert by Valerie June will be held at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. 6:30 p.m. [Free] |
| • Sample food and kosher wine from around the world at the Kosher Food and Wine Experience at Chelsea Piers. 6:30 p.m. [$125] | • Sample food and kosher wine from around the world at the Kosher Food and Wine Experience at Chelsea Piers. 6:30 p.m. [$125] |
| • The author of the book “The Suffragents” discusses the history of the Men’s League for Woman Suffrage at the Greater Astoria Historical Society in Long Island City, Queens. 7 p.m. [Free] | • The author of the book “The Suffragents” discusses the history of the Men’s League for Woman Suffrage at the Greater Astoria Historical Society in Long Island City, Queens. 7 p.m. [Free] |
| • Islanders host Predators, 7 p.m. (MSG+). Rangers at Stars, 8:30 p.m. (MSG). | • Islanders host Predators, 7 p.m. (MSG+). Rangers at Stars, 8:30 p.m. (MSG). |
| • Alternate-side parking remains in effect until Feb. 12. | • Alternate-side parking remains in effect until Feb. 12. |
| • For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide. | • For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide. |
| In other marijuana news, here are some of your responses to last month’s request for thoughts on legalization: | In other marijuana news, here are some of your responses to last month’s request for thoughts on legalization: |
| For: | For: |
| “Not only does cannabis have, almost without argument, various medical uses, but the amount of revenue brought in by taxes on cannabis could help pay for things we obviously are having trouble finding money for: maintenance and repair of New York’s fading and failing infrastructure, homelessness issues, affordable housing issues and drug rehabilitation issues.” | “Not only does cannabis have, almost without argument, various medical uses, but the amount of revenue brought in by taxes on cannabis could help pay for things we obviously are having trouble finding money for: maintenance and repair of New York’s fading and failing infrastructure, homelessness issues, affordable housing issues and drug rehabilitation issues.” |
| — Jamie Legon, 66, Morningside Heights | — Jamie Legon, 66, Morningside Heights |
| “Petty arrests for possession of marijuana have disproportionately targeted low-income communities of color for too long. As a step toward making our justice system more fair and modern, let’s rethink how we criminalize drug use.” | “Petty arrests for possession of marijuana have disproportionately targeted low-income communities of color for too long. As a step toward making our justice system more fair and modern, let’s rethink how we criminalize drug use.” |
| — Dylan Lee, 22, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn | — Dylan Lee, 22, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn |
| “Recreational marijuana should definitely be legal in New York. However, we as a society need to have an honest conversation about the pros and cons of using marijuana — there are many. We also need to remove any and all barriers into medical research of the drug by unbiased scientists so that we can improve our understanding of the effects of this substance that so many of us consume.” | “Recreational marijuana should definitely be legal in New York. However, we as a society need to have an honest conversation about the pros and cons of using marijuana — there are many. We also need to remove any and all barriers into medical research of the drug by unbiased scientists so that we can improve our understanding of the effects of this substance that so many of us consume.” |
| — André Salerno, 32, Williamsburg, Brooklyn | — André Salerno, 32, Williamsburg, Brooklyn |
| Against: | Against: |
| “I am against legalization simply because it smells bad and New Yorkers live and commute in tight spaces. In New York City the skunky stink seeps into my apartment and I can smell it walking on the sidewalk or lingering on the clothes of subway riders.” | “I am against legalization simply because it smells bad and New Yorkers live and commute in tight spaces. In New York City the skunky stink seeps into my apartment and I can smell it walking on the sidewalk or lingering on the clothes of subway riders.” |
| — Marianne Harmon, 41, Upper West Side | — Marianne Harmon, 41, Upper West Side |
| “I am absolutely against America becoming a nation of potheads. We need our critical thinking more than ever now, and marijuana is scientifically documented to slow reaction time and motivation, cause changes in the brain and negatively affect the lungs.” | “I am absolutely against America becoming a nation of potheads. We need our critical thinking more than ever now, and marijuana is scientifically documented to slow reaction time and motivation, cause changes in the brain and negatively affect the lungs.” |
| — Anne Russell, 80, Wrightsville Beach, N.C. | — Anne Russell, 80, Wrightsville Beach, N.C. |
| “I do not support the legalization of marijuana for a simple reason that the cost treating people with potential side effects of the drug is enormous.” | “I do not support the legalization of marijuana for a simple reason that the cost treating people with potential side effects of the drug is enormous.” |
| — Howard Zhang, 26, West New York, N.J. | — Howard Zhang, 26, West New York, N.J. |
| Wait, I’m confused: | Wait, I’m confused: |
| “Oh, it’s not legal in New York? I walk down the street smelling its pungent aroma just about everywhere in the city. You can get it delivered to your home in an hour. Why on earth don’t we legalize it? Everyone would be way happier and more chill.” | “Oh, it’s not legal in New York? I walk down the street smelling its pungent aroma just about everywhere in the city. You can get it delivered to your home in an hour. Why on earth don’t we legalize it? Everyone would be way happier and more chill.” |
| — Joanne Bernbaum, 59, Williamsburg, Brooklyn | — Joanne Bernbaum, 59, Williamsburg, Brooklyn |
| New York Today is a morning roundup that is published weekdays at 6 a.m. If you don’t get it in your inbox already, you can sign up to receive it by email here. | New York Today is a morning roundup that is published weekdays at 6 a.m. If you don’t get it in your inbox already, you can sign up to receive it by email here. |
| For updates throughout the day, like us on Facebook. | For updates throughout the day, like us on Facebook. |
| What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday. | What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday. |
| Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. | Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. |
| You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. | You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. |
Previous version
1
Next version