University of Virginia Library

Whitebread Recreates Drug
History In Minor Meeting

By Rob Pritchard
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Speaking at the John B. Minor
Pre-Legal Society meeting last week,
Charles Whitebread, Associate Professor
of Law at the University, stressed the
history of drug regulation in discussing
the topic of "Drugs and the Law."

"One of the critical questions which
has never been investigated and which I
have attempted to answer is where,
historically, did the idea come from the
make drugs such as marijuana, heroin,
and the like illegal?"

Professor Charles Whitebread

Why, It's No Problem Anymore

In pointing to the examples of New
York and Utah, Mr. Whitebread discussed the
internal forces acting on the State governments
during the second decade of the twentieth
century. While the representatives of both
states were in part seeking votes by taking up
the anti-drug position, there were also other
influences acting on the lawmakers.

In Utah, the influence of the Mormons with
their strong feeling against any form of
euphoric substance provided the motive to
invoke anti-marijuana legislation. Aimed
primarily at the great influx of Mexicans
coming into that area and also Americans
returning from Mexico, these laws were an
attempt to end the regional influence of
marijuana.

New York, however, passed marijuana
regulations mainly, according to Mr.
Whitebread, because in 1914 hard drugs were
made illegal and the prohibition of alcohol was
just over the horizon, and rather than have
everyone flock to marijuana the New York
legislature voted to make marijuana illegal.

After giving a history of drug regulation, Mr.
Whitebread entertained a question and answer
period during which he discussed Virginia drug
laws and the causes of the increase of drug use
during the 1950's.

According to Mr. Whitebread, his article in
the Virginia Law Review on the history of drug
laws should be out very soon. He also added
that he is strongly considering writing a book
on the subject of the legal aspects of drug laws.