During a public meeting over the weekend, Republican Rep. Steve Alford argued against legalizing weed in Kansas, which some state Democrats say could boost the state's struggling economy. Speaking to an all white crowd, Alford explained that his opposes legalization because it's a "gateway drug" (it's not) and because, according to Alford, prior to cannabis prohibition:

“One of the reasons why—I hate to say it—is the African Americans, they were basically users and they responded the worst off to those drugs. It’s because of their character makeup—their genetics and that.”

Alford's statements harken back to the beginning of cannabis prohbition in the 1930s, when Harry Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (a precursor to the DEA), pushed the myths the most pot smokers were black or immigrants, and that the drug made people of color forget their place in society—which, of course, was at the very bottom.

"Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men," Anslinger reportedly said. "There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S., and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others."

The reality is, weed is more likely to make you eat Cheetos to than listen to jazz. Plus, while black people are no more likely to smoke weed than white people, they are almost 4 times more likely to be arrested for it. But, as you can see in the video below, Anslinger's bullshit is alive and well in Kansas.