Eugenia e racismo científico na proibição da maconha no Brasil do início do século XX

Abstract

This article analyzes the intersection between racism and the prohibition of marijuana in Brazil, with an emphasis on Decree-Law No. 891 of 1938. The legislation, influenced by eugenic theories such as those of Rodrigues Dória and Pernambuco Filho, was used as a tool for social control, aiming to marginalize racial groups, particularly Afrodescendants. The prohibition of marijuana was framed as a mechanism to reinforce social hierarchy, sustaining white racial superiority and "public order." This study argues that the 1938 law not only criminalized the use of the plant but also consolidated a racialized power structure, perpetuating social inequalities in the country.