57: Moses Baca/Sam Caldwell
The Marihuana Stamp Tax Act was approved on August 2, and went into effect on October 1, 1937. Moses Baca was arrested October 3; Samuel Caldwell was taken in two days later. Both pleaded guilty. Both were sentenced by federal Judge J. Foster Symes on October 8. Baca got 18 months for possessing a quarter-ounce. Caldwell was caught selling three joints to man named Claude Morgan and was also caught in possession of four pounds of cannabis, which he’d smuggled in from Kansas. He received a heavier sentence of four years. On October 17, 1937, both were received at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. ONLY 2 WEEKS LATER…
Sam Caldwell is dubbed as “The first pot POW”, and was one of the earliest targets of the 1937 Marihuana Stamp Act, but he was not the first. Sit back with your favorite strain and lets hop back in time to check out some facts surrounding the first 2 victims of Anslinger and the madness that was surrounding reefer.
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