Joe Rogan discusses how Harry Anslinger and William Hearst pushed for marijuana prohibition to serve their own interests
The UFC commentator and podcaster, Joe Rogan, has always been an advocate for legalized marijuana use and believes the previous lawmaking decisions on the drug were mishandled. In a recent edition of The Joe Rogan Experience, the host explained why public perception of cannabis is so negative and why it was banned.
The 56-year-old explained in a conversation with guest Norman Ohler that he feels the banning of conventional marijuana use dates back to the former Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Harry Anslinger. Rogan claimed that Anslinger's relationship with newspaper owner William Randolph Hearst is the reason marijuana is not legal in most of US states in 2024.
Rogan said:
"It's stunning that 90 years later we're still dealing with the aftermath of [Harry Anslinger banning marijuana usage]. And also in conjunction with his union with William Randolph Hearst... [Hearst] had a vested financial interest in keeping marijuana illegal because of hemp."
Check out Joe Rogan's comments at 30:10 from PowerfulJRE on YouTube below:
Rogan continued:
"Hearst didn't just own Hearst Publications, he also owned paper mills. So he had thousands of acres of trees and forests that they were converting into paper and now all of a sudden there was this new product that was going to destabilize his industry."
The UFC analyst explained that once Anslinger made marijuana illegal, hemp was no longer a threat to Hearst since it was also banned because of being considered cannabis. Moreover, many voters didn't realize that they were also voting in favor of prohibiting cannabis.
Why does Joe Rogan support marijuana usage?
Joe Rogan hasn't shied away from being publicly vocal about his stance on marijuana. Being an avid user, Rogan does not believe the plant should be illegal in the US.
Rogan claims that marijuana is not any more dangerous than any other drug already prominent in society, including alcohol, nicotine, and even caffeine. In his conversation with Norman Ohler, the two concluded that most Americans use drugs every day without even realizing it.
The comedian is also passionate in his belief that marijuana smokers do not belong in prison with convicted felons of violent crimes, including murder, assault, and sexual violence.