In 1970 the U.S. Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970.
Under the CSA, cannabis tetrahydrocannibinols (including marijuana, hashish, and hashish oil) is designated by Congress as a Schedule I substance, supposedly “having no medical value” and therefore illegal to “manufacture, distribute, or dispense; or possess with intent to manfacture, distribute, or dispense.”
Severe penalties include a mandatory minimum of 10 year prison sentence a maximum of life in prison for more than 1,000 kilograms or 1,000 plants. The mandatory minimum for 100 to 1,000 kilgrams or 100 to 1,000 plants is five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison.
The sentence for less than 50 kilograms (unless there are more than 50 plants) is a maximum of five years in federal prison.
For “simple possession” of “small amounts”, the first offense has a maximum sentence of one year in federal prison. On a second offense there is a minimum of 90 days in prison. On a third or subsequent offense there is a maximum of three years in prison. Distribution of “small amounts” of cannabis “for no financial renumeration” (note that means no payment of any kind) has the same penalties.
Under CSA Section 859, if a person 18 years old or older sells more than five grams of cannabis to a person under the age of 21 (even if the person purchasing is older than the person selling), the maximum sentence is doubled. On the second offense, the maximum penalty is tripled.
Under CSA Section 860, manufacturing (growing) or sale of cannabis within 1,000 feet of a school (including any university or college campus) or public housing facility or within 100 feet of a public youth center, pool, or arcade, results in the maximum sentence being doubled. On the second offense, the maximum penalty is tripled. If found guilty under this section, a person is not eligible for probation, suspension of the sentence, or early parole.
What possible reason could the U.S. government have for such Draconian penalties for cannabis? It is because Chrsitianity has always imposed Draconian penalties for Witchcraft, including torture and the death penalty. The Controlled Substances Act imposes harsher penatlies for cannabis than for rape, murder, and torture because the Christian judges and Congresspersons consider Cannabis Witchcraft to be a more serious religious offense than violent crimes.
