Canal Zone Quotes
See {588984} for more on the Canal.
La Guardia had seen some Federal officials claim that marijuana was a very dangerous drug leading to insanity, violence and murder if used. See {624434} and {590692} . However, none of the “dangers” had been verified by science and medicine/ La Guardia was the first public official who asked scientists to study the substance and let people know the real danger if any. The report was a major contracdiction to the federal propaganda that had been issued, and even continued to be after this study by the prestigious New York Academy of Medicine. It has been known for a long time that marijuana was relatively harmless when compared with other drugs such as heroin, cocaine, alcohol and tobacco. At the time the government officials had lied to the public grossly exaggerating the negative effects of marijuana. And scientific research was prohibited in most cases until the 21st century. And the evidence is now available that while marijuana does not have the very dangerous effect that was claimed, it is not benign either. Marijuana has an effect on the brain—especially of youth who are still developing—that is not totally understood. And there is a definite negative relationship between the extent of marihuana smoking student grades. Also we know now that marijuana impedes social development as well as intellectual. The causality is not clearly established however. It is possible that the poorer students and those less socially skilled have little success and use marijuana. With the exception of many adults who claim that marihuana helps them tolerate cancer drugs and other pain, there is no other benefit that has been found. Youngsters can think they are “cool” but that is about it on the plus side. On the negative side, marijuana is not the most dangerous drug one can take, but it is certainly not harmless.
The French had a plan to construct a canal across Panama.
Japan, then a militaristic power in the East had occupied and controlled Manchuria after the Russo-Japanese War. The League of Nations voted that Manchuria should be placed under international control until elections and independence can be arranged. The Japanese then had a rapidly growing population and Japan felt that the Japanese Islands were not sufficient to produce the raw materials, oil and agriculture needed to sustain a larger Japanese population. Therefore, the Japanese argued that they were entitled to grow and expand to nearby territories to provide for their nation’s needs. When the league of nations rejected the Japanese position, Japan walked out of the League of Nations. Japan would occupy part of China and Korea all leading to WWII. See {627075} for the foreign minister’s later assessment.
