The bizarre history of cannabis in India: a cartoon history thread. (1/n)

The story of cannabis in India is long and convoluted.
Ancient Indians knew of cannabis very well. https://t.co/HlJryX9UXp
For hundreds of years, cannabis was used to treat everyday ailments, pain relief and recreation. And that lasted into colonial times. https://t.co/Nw4CpcQAHW
Some officials claimed that cannabis caused insanity, so the British set up the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission to investigate. It ended up recommending that cannabis not be banned, but more regulated and taxed. https://t.co/uc1OQ7sshd
Harry Anslinger started his career enforcing US alcohol prohibition laws. When prohibition ended, he started attacking cannabis as a law enforcement problem. https://t.co/laVABWkRdJ
After World War II, the US became the world’s biggest superpower. Anslinger represented it at the UN’s new commission on narcotic drugs, and his agents began using US clout to influence global drug policy. https://t.co/xeUd3G4AvB
An aside: Global drug policy depends on who holds power and what benefits them. That’s partly why tobacco and alcohol are treated differently from cannabis. https://t.co/UoY5ikTxWm
At the UN, the US pushed for an international treaty banning cannabis along with more dangerous drugs. But there was resistance, led by India. https://t.co/EoJ9lw5xHT
Eventually the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs came about & cannabis was classified with dangerous drugs like heroin. But pressure from countries like India & Pakistan ensured some parts of the plant were protected, and governments were given 25 years to ban other uses.
The US went on to launch an ill-fated ‘war on drugs’. And in 1985, the Rajiv Gandhi government in India passed the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
But today, many countries are turning the clock back on cannabis. Medical and recreational marijuana is now legal in several US states and in countries like Canada and South Africa. The US Congress has now passed a bill to decriminalize cannabis.
But in India, cannabis is now a villain. In Mumbai, which has the most NDPS arrests in the country, nine out of ten people arrested are not drug barons but cannabis users, most of them slum and street-dwellers. https://t.co/uH8hQrwjFD
Many experts agree that drug addiction is better treated as a public health issue, and that cannabis should be decriminalized and regulated. https://t.co/sqQO5rUkh5
Last week, the UN narcotics commission, based on World Health Organization recommendations, removed cannabis from its list of most dangerous substances. https://t.co/rzvlymrpci
Before India's current crackdown on cannabis, some politicians across parties have said they are in favour of decriminalising and regulating it.
Fin.

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The meat of the criticism is that the history Adler gives is insufficiently critical. Adler describes a few figures who had a great influence on how the modern US university was formed. It's certainly critical: it focuses on the social Darwinism of these figures. 2/x

Other insinuations and suggestions in the review seem wildly off the mark, distorted, or inappropriate-- for example, that the book is clickbaity (it is scholarly) or conservative (hardly) or connected to the events at the Capitol (give me a break). 3/x

The core question: in what sense is classics inherently racist? Classics is old. On Adler's account, it begins in ancient Rome and is revived in the Renaissance. Slavery (Christiansen's primary concern) is also very old. Let's say classics is an education for slaveowners. 4/x

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1/ Here’s a list of conversational frameworks I’ve picked up that have been helpful.

Please add your own.

2/ The Magic Question: "What would need to be true for you


3/ On evaluating where someone’s head is at regarding a topic they are being wishy-washy about or delaying.

“Gun to the head—what would you decide now?”

“Fast forward 6 months after your sabbatical--how would you decide: what criteria is most important to you?”

4/ Other Q’s re: decisions:

“Putting aside a list of pros/cons, what’s the *one* reason you’re doing this?” “Why is that the most important reason?”

“What’s end-game here?”

“What does success look like in a world where you pick that path?”

5/ When listening, after empathizing, and wanting to help them make their own decisions without imposing your world view:

“What would the best version of yourself do”?