infact due to wheat and grains being contaminated with fermented ergot, .
the substance that produces the hallucinogenic effects in LSD.
Religions of all cultures have incorporated mind-altering substances .
into their practices. The Native American Shamans were religious .
figures and healers of tribes that performed ceremonies using drugs and .
herbs as methods of treating the sick, also, peyote, a strong .
hallucinogenic, was taken to induce spiritual visions and prophecies. .
The Bwiti tribes in Africa used ibogaine in their ceremonies; Peruvian .
Amazon religions used ayahuasca, Rastafarians in the present day smoke .
marijuana as part of their relious customs. Even Catholic priests .
drink wine in as part of the rituals. Clearly, the fact that drugs .
have been such an integral part of all cultures, yet today are .
perceived contemptuously, raises serious questions concerning the .
reasons and motivations for the eradication of certain drugs in .
society. .
.
The first drug law that came to being in the United States was in San .
Francisco, 1875, which out lawed the smoking of opium in the notorious .
opium dens. This "pastime" came about with the vast amount of people .
immigrating from China into the western U.S. The Chinese were bringing .
with them their culture, and opium. For that reason, Federal laws were .
passed prohibiting the trafficking of opium to any person of Chinese .
origin. These laws were not implemented because smoking opium had .
become a crippling social problem, but because of the fear and .
prejudice harbored by Americans against foreigners and foreign customs .
corrupting the American way of life. .
Next came the "Cocainized Niggers" of the 1900's, these fiends would .
induce themselves into a coked up rage, rape white women, and pillage .
towns. At least this was the picture that was painted by the .
newspapers and media. In an article of Literary Digest, it was stated .
that, "Under its (cocaine) influence are the most daring crimes .
