During the long, dry summer of 1938, the brave men and women of Robbinsdale’s Westphal Post 251 American Legion answered the call of politicians, clergy and concerned citizens across the nation. While the Dust Bowl blew dirt from Texas to Canada, they pulled up their socks, rolled up their sleeves, climbed into the backs of pickup trucks and headed out to the fields and ditches to destroy the devil weed.
Looking at the issues of the day through the lens of the past can be a little like looking at a fun house mirror. We often imagine our ancestors as unsophisticated or uniformed. We might even have a chuckle or two at our great grandparent’s expense. That being said if they’re on the other side of the mirror looking back at us, they’re probably having a laugh too.
The photos in this post are from a 1938 Westphal Post 251 American Legion scrapbook. The accompanying headlines and excerpts are from local papers reporting on the Legion’s efforts that summer.
The Legion vs. Marijuana
A POTENT fighting force has been thrown into Minnesota’s battle against the marijuana weed and habit—a force represented by 27,000 members of the Minnesota American Legion. A call has been issued to open an immediate state campaign against the harmful drug. The Legion shows it has not lost its knowledge of military strategy by directing its first attack against the sources of marijuana traffic—the weed itself. Weekly patrols will be made in rural areas in an effort to locate and eradicate plots and fields of the weed. That is the first and probably the most important task in the anti-marijuana drive. For if the weed itself can be destroyed, the actual and potential extent of its use will be reduced to a minimum, and many who would otherwise be tempted to try smoking the narcotic will never have the opportunity.
There should be “no quarter” in this fight. Marijuana grows easily, in practically any climate or soil, and there are plenty of misguided young folk who would think it harmless to try smoking the stuff. Therein lies the insidious danger—the easy availability of a drug which promises its user a new “thrill.” The Minnesota American Legion is to be commended for public spirited effort in lending its strong right arm to this campaign. With full cooperation, it should not take long to make marijuana virtually non-existent in the state.
-Minneapolis Star Editorial-May 21st, 1938
STATE LEGION ENTERS DRIVE ON MARIJUANA
27,000 in 473 Posts, Plus Other Groups, Plan 3-Month Drive
Minnesota’s 27,000 American Legion members today were enlisted in a drive to eradicate the innocent looking but drug producing weed, marijuana. Supporting Department Commander M. B. Hurley of Pine City and the state’s 473 local Legion posts are the 21,000 American Legion Auxiliary members of Minnesota organized in 427 local units with Mrs. William P. Robertson of Litchfield, department president.
Patrols Planned
Co-operating are the 40 and 8’ers led by their state chief, Dr. George Snyder of St. Paul.
“The immediate concern of our posts and units is for each to map a systematic campaign whereby members shall patrol every inch of territory in search of marijuana, every weed to be destroyed so that it may have no opportunity to become a potential drug producer,” Commander Hurley said.
Weekly Searches
Now being enlisted in support of the American Legion in this campaign are all other organizations in each community, it was pointed out in The Minnesota Legionnaire, official state publication. State Legion leaders pointed out that the initial combing of the countryside with a view to destroying the marijuana weed would be followed by weekly patrols covering a three-months’ period, reports of progress to be made regularly. While eradicating marijuana, the Legion patrols will also search for
and destroy pig weed, said to cause asthma, and ragweed, the pollen of which is charged with producing hay fever.
-Minneapolis Star-May 19th, 1938
Legion Maps Campaign in Drive on Marijuana
Co-operation of county agents, highway engineers and maintenance men, railroad agents and section foremen will be sought in the statewide American Legion campaign to eradicate the marijuana weed, Michael B. Hurley of Pine City, state commander, announced today. In a bulletin sent to all Legion posts and auxiliaries, Commander Hurley suggested June 15 as the date for the start of the eradication campaign. Advised patrols that the plant should be pulled up or cut and burned. That from three to six men or women be assigned to each section. That every foot of territory be covered every two weeks from June 15 to Sept. 1. Each post has been furnished detailed information telling how to identify the marijuana weed, how it affects those who use it, and what should be done to wipe out this evil.
Minneapolis Star- June 2nd, 1938
While this is an interesting story, it leaves out some important context as to WHY marijuana was made illegal. HINT: There was a racial motived side to the story (read more here: https://www.history.com/news/why-the-u-s-made-marijuana-illegal) as well as an economic side to the story (read more here: https://greathemp.net/why-hemp-was-banned-in-1937/).
All this is to say, that this story would be better served with some historical context.