But "hemp" is a cozy word for the killer Mexican horror weed Marijuana. On October 5th, 1937, fifty-eight-year old Denver farmer Samuel R. Caldwell (pictured above) became the first person ever convicted of dealing the shit. The conviction comes hot on the heels of the October 2nd enactment of the Marijuana Tax Law, which prohibits God's worst plant.

Caldwell was caught selling a few 'marijuana cigaretts' to Moses Baca, 26. The next day Caldwell was indicted by a grand jury, and two days later appeared before Judge Foster Symes, who stated:

"I consider marijuana the worst of all narcotics, far worse than the use of morphine or cocaine. Under its influence men become beasts. Marijuana destroys life itself. I have no sympathy with those who sell this weed. The government is going to enforce this new law to the letter."

Caldwell was sentenced to four years of hard labor in Leavenworth Penitentiary, plus a $1000 fine. Baca received 18 months incarceration.

This author can only hope that this is the beginning of a long road of putting people in jail who grow plants and smoke them.