User:Dy gif/Cannabis in the Vietnam War

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Map of Vietnam Divisions

Cannabis use during the Vietnam War became prevalent during the late '60s and '70s, this reason is primarily due to the usage of marijuana back in the United States increasing along with soldiers using it as an escape from the conflicts around them.[1] The United States Government implemented policies and rules to stop the growing usage of marijuana and other substances, such as heroin. When the media back in the United States learned about the usage of marijuana and heroin, they decided to write sensational news articles which often exaggerated the use of the substances.[2]

Cannabis Use During the War[edit]

Origins[edit]

Cannabis plants are native to Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.[3] The indigenous cannabis plants of Vietnam had a stronger potency when compared to the cannabis that was grown in the Americas.[2] The Vietnamese didn't usually use marijuana but preferred other substances such as betel nuts and opium, so they only increased the amount of marijuana they grew to sell more to the U.S. Soldiers.[2] The U.S. Soldiers changed the word for marijuana depending on where they were within the country, the names they used were Pleiku Pink, Bleu de Hue, and Cambodian Red.[2]

During the conflict in Vietnam, there were three primary substances that soldiers consumed which were alcohol, marijuana, and heroin.[4] Each substance had its usage peak at different times with the first peak being alcohol, then marijuana, and lastly heroin seeing its peak towards the end of the war.[2]

Cannabis plant, sativa

Marijuana usage during the war took place more towards the end of the 60s and during the 70s.[1] During the late 50s and 60s, the primary substance that was being used among the soldiers was alcohol.[2] The primary reason why soldiers drank more alcohol than smoked marijuana is because they weren't exposed to smoking marijuana back in the United States. [1] The shift from alcohol to marijuana happened when the newly drafted soldiers who came in were either exposed to marijuana back in the United States or were current users.[1] As the amount of troops who already smoked marijuana increased, the percentage of soldiers already stationed that started using marijuana also increased; however, the amount of soldiers who smoked before entering the war was always greater than those who were first trying in Vietnam.[1] The increase of marijuana usage back in the United States rose with the amount of anti-war protests, which started to become more prevalent towards the end of the '60s.[5] Smoking marijuana became a form of rebellion among the youths at the protests because it was still illegal to use.[5]

Along with the increase of soldiers who had already smoked before entering Vietnam, soldiers also started smoking as a coping mechanism.[2] Soldiers turned to various substances to get them through the many experiences they encountered throughout the war, with one of the popular substances being cannabis. Marijuana was used as an escape by many soldiers and as a form of self-medication.[6]

Soldiers acquired cannabis through the Vietnamese, who would sell it to them.[1] Farmers started to grow more after recognizing the demand from the American soldiers. They were sold to the troops through a multitude of ways, with one being the farmers would sell the marijuana to people who would place the cannabis into cigarette packs to sell to the soldiers.[2]

Impact[edit]

Marine and Cavalryman smoking at Khe Sanh Combat Base

Statistics that were taken during the war show an increase in marijuana use as the years went on. In 1966, the percentage of people who used marijuana before Vietnam was 12%, while by 1970, it was 46%.[1] The same study also showed that from 1967 to 1971, the number of soldiers who used marijuana semi-regularly went from 7% to 34%, while the amount that used it regularly was at around 17% by 1971..[1]

Marijuana use eventually went down and was replaced by heroin. Heroin usage didn't increase with the number of users back in the United States as marijuana did.[4] The primary reason for heroin's popularity was that it was easily available in Vietnam, and it was easier to sneak around due to it having no scent.[4]

Policies[edit]

The rapid drug use did not go unnoticed by the United States Government. When the war originally started, the government didn't put a lot of effort into arresting soldiers who partook in drug usage simply because the number was so low it didn't stand out as an issue. Congressional subcommittees brought to light that drug usage was on a large increase in Vietnam, which concerned the military, so they began measures to crack down on drug usage.[1] Efforts to crack down on drug usage also increased greatly when journalists in the United States released a number of articles to the public about the drug usage, which caused a commotion and put more pressure on the United States Government.[6] The Army's Criminal Investigation Division contributed the most to arresting soldiers on drug usage and overall cracking down on drug usage.[1] Originally, the military focused more on punishment for soldiers getting caught with drugs until heroin became their number one concern. When heroin became the primary issue, the military pivoted from punishment to treatment, by the 1970's more troops were sent home for drug use than injuries.[4]

Heroin paraphernalia

One unintended consequence of cracking down on marijuana was an increase in heroin usage. Heroin usage increased within Vietnam due to the military cracking down on marijuana use and the easy access to heroin within Vietnam. Vietnam was very close to the Golden Triangle which was a region for opium and heroin production.[7] Heroin was also harder to catch when compared to marijuana because it was odorless and easier for a soldier to hide and carry around.[7]

Affects in the United States[edit]

Media[edit]

The media back in the United States pushed forward many false ideas about drug use in Vietnam. They relied on sensational media to push forward ideas that the United States army was having a serious drug problem, while there was a lot of drug use it wasn't nearly as much as news outlets were saying it was.[2] Some journalists were even pushing the idea that the drugs the U.S. Soldiers were using were from the communists as a form of sabotage.[2] The many articles that were being pushed about drug use fostered fear among citizens in the United States. The media was trying to link drugs to a breakdown in the military's ability to function.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Stanton, M. Duncan (1976-01). "Drugs, Vietnam, and the Vietnam Veteran: An Overview". The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 3 (4): 557–570. doi:10.3109/00952997609014295. ISSN 0095-2990. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kuzmarov, Jeremy (2007-10). "The Myth of the 'Addicted Army': Drug Use in Vietnam in Historical Perspective". War & Society. 26 (2): 121–141. doi:10.1179/072924707791591640. ISSN 0729-2473. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Hudak, John (2020-06-30). Marijuana: A Short History. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 978-0-8157-3832-9.
  4. ^ a b c d Menninger, Roy W.; Nemiah, John C. (2008-11-01). American Psychiatry After World War II (1944-1994). American Psychiatric Pub. ISBN 978-1-58562-825-4.
  5. ^ a b "In 'Grass Roots,' A History Of Marijuana In America". Colorado Public Radio. 2018-04-09. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  6. ^ a b "War and Drugs". drugfoundation.org.nz. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  7. ^ a b Collyer, Abigail (2023-10-10). "Heroin: The hidden enemy in the Vietnam War". UK Addiction Treatment Centres. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
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