---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the tons it is coming into this…"
description: "\"By the tons it is coming into this country - the deadly, dreadful poison that racks and tears not only the body, but the very heart and soul of every h..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2a/harry-j-anslinger-31398_asylums_by-the-tons-it-is-coming-into-this-count_262228.jpg"
---

#  By the tons it is coming into this country - the deadly…

![“By the tons it is coming into this country - the deadly, dreadful poison that racks and tears not only the body, but the very heart and soul of every human being who once becomes a slave to it in any of its cruel and devastating forms. Marihuana is a short cut to the insane asylum. Smoke marihuana…” quote by Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2a/harry-j-anslinger-31398_asylums_by-the-tons-it-is-coming-into-this-count_262228.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2a/harry-j-anslinger-31398_asylums_by-the-tons-it-is-coming-into-this-count_262228.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2a/harry-j-anslinger-31398_asylums_by-the-tons-it-is-coming-into-this-count_262228.jpg)

> “By the tons it is coming into this country - the deadly, dreadful poison that racks and tears not only the body, but the very heart and soul of every human being who once becomes a slave to it in any of its cruel and devastating forms. Marihuana is a short cut to the insane asylum. Smoke marihuana cigarettes for a month and what was once your brain will be nothing but a storehouse of horrid specters. Hasheesh makes a murderer who kills for the love of killing out of the mildest mannered man who ever laughed at the idea that any habit could ever get him.”

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A warning that marijuana leads to severe mental and moral decay, portraying it as a dangerous drug.

**In simple terms:** Marijuana is portrayed as a harmful, mind‑destroying substance.

Key Takeaway

Avoid use, educate others.

Themes

public health drug policy morality danger perception

Mood

cautionary alarmist

Type

informative persuasive

When to use this quote

- public health education
- policy advocacy
- community outreach
- personal decision‑making
- law enforcement training

Key Concepts

addiction psychosis social harm

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence supports or refutes these claims?
- How can balanced education improve public perception?

A Different Perspective

Evidence shows varied effects; not all users experience extreme outcomes.

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[Asylums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asylums/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Cigarette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart and soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-and-soul/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Insane asylum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insane-asylum/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Marihuana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marihuana/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Murderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Short cuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-cuts/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoke/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/)

## Related quotes

> [Marihuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men's shadows and look at a white woman twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/marihuana-influences-negroes-to-look-at-white-people-in-the-eye-step/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [Marihuana is the most violent drug in the history of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/marihuana-is-the-most-violent-drug-in-the-history-of-mankind/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [I wish I could show you what a small marihuana cigarette can do to one of our degenerate Spanish-speaking residents. That's why our problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/i-wish-i-could-show-you-what-a-small-marihuana-cigarette-can-do-to/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/marihuana-leads-to-pacifism-and-communist-brainwashing/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [“Cannabis is just way too healthy for a sick health care system”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marincolo/cannabis-is-just-way-too-healthy-for-a-sick-health-care-system/)

[Sebastian Marincolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marincolo/)

> [“–Levántate y date una ducha, cabrón. –¿Qué pasa? –A mí no me vengas con qué pasa. Anoche fumaste marihuana. –Pero no era nada buena,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/lev-ntate-y-date-una-ducha-cabr-n-qu-pasa-a-m-no-me-vengas-con-qu/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [La cucaracha, la cucaracha, Ya no quieres caminar, Porque no tienes, Porque le falta, Marihuana que fumar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-villa/la-cucaracha-la-cucaracha-ya-no-quieres-caminar-porque-no-tienes/)

[Pancho Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-villa/)

> [“The movie Koyaanisqatsi shows non-commented time-lapse footage and focuses our attention on the very rhythm of our civilized modern life and nature. A marijuana…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marincolo/the-movie-koyaanisqatsi-shows-non-commented-time-lapse-footage-and/)

[Sebastian Marincolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marincolo/)

> [“The legalization of marijuana is not a dangerous experiment – the prohibition is the experiment, and it has failed dramatically, with millions of victims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marincolo/the-legalization-of-marijuana-is-not-a-dangerous-experiment-the/)

[Sebastian Marincolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marincolo/)

> [Marihuana is no a drug is just a leaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/marihuana-is-no-a-drug-is-just-a-leaf/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [“Insane asylums are deliberate and premeditated receptacles of black magic, and it is not only that doctors encourage magic with their untimely and hybrid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-artaud/insane-asylums-are-deliberate-and-premeditated-receptacles-of-black/)

[Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-artaud/)

> [“I myself spent nine years in an insane asylum and I never had the obsession of suicide, but I know that each conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-artaud/i-myself-spent-nine-years-in-an-insane-asylum-and-i-never-had-the/)

[Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-artaud/)

> [South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-petigru/south-carolina-is-too-small-for-a-republic-and-too-large-for-an/)

James L. Petigru

> [Hollywood is a cross between a health farm, a recreation center and an insane asylum. It's a company town, and I happen to like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/hollywood-is-a-cross-between-a-health-farm-a-recreation-center-and-an/)

[Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/)

> [Earth is the insane asylum of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/earth-is-the-insane-asylum-of-the-universe/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

## More by Harry J. Anslinger

> [There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/there-are-100-000-total-marijuana-smokers-in-the-us-and-most-are/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [In the year 1090, there was founded in Persia the religious and military order of the Assassins, whose history is one of cruelty, barbarity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/in-the-year-1090-there-was-founded-in-persia-the-religious-and/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [ Colored students at the University of Minnesota partying with (white) female students, smoking \[marijuana\] and getting their sympathy with stories of racial persecution. Result:… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/colored-students-at-the-university-of-minnesota-partying-with-white/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/marihuana-leads-to-pacifism-and-communist-brainwashing/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [How many murders, suicides, robberies, criminal assaults, holdups, burglaries and deeds of maniacal insanity it causes each year, especially among the young, can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/how-many-murders-suicides-robberies-criminal-assaults-holdups/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [I wish I could show you what a small marihuana cigarette can do to one of our degenerate Spanish-speaking residents. That's why our problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/i-wish-i-could-show-you-what-a-small-marihuana-cigarette-can-do-to/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [If the hideous monster Frankenstein came face to face with the monster of marijuana he would drop dead of fright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/if-the-hideous-monster-frankenstein-came-face-to-face-with-the/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [Marihuana is the most violent drug in the history of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/marihuana-is-the-most-violent-drug-in-the-history-of-mankind/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [Marijuana is taken by musicians. And I'm not speaking about good musicians, but the jazz type...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/marijuana-is-taken-by-musicians-and-i-m-not-speaking-about-good/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [Marihuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men's shadows and look at a white woman twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/marihuana-influences-negroes-to-look-at-white-people-in-the-eye-step/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/reefer-makes-darkies-think-they-re-as-good-as-white-men/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [The primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/the-primary-reason-to-outlaw-marijuana-is-its-effect-on-the/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/marijuana-is-an-addictive-drug-which-produces-in-its-users-insanity/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [Marijuana is the most violence causing drug in the history of mankindMost marijuana smokers are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/marijuana-is-the-most-violence-causing-drug-in-the-history-of/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/you-smoke-a-joint-and-you-re-likely-to-kill-your-brother/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

[Explore all 16 Harry J. Anslinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

## More Asylums quotes

> [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/)

[Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/)

> [3 people get stranded on a remote Island A Banker, a Daily Mail reader & an Asylum seeker All they have to eat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-brookmyre/3-people-get-stranded-on-a-remote-island-a-banker-a-daily-mail-reader/)

[Christopher Brookmyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-brookmyre/)

> [If things should go too far and deportation of all whiteguard emigres from the United States were demanded, this would be an attempt against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/if-things-should-go-too-far-and-deportation-of-all-whiteguard-emigres/)

[Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/)

> [Let us leave the EEC, abolish human rights laws, take TV sets, pool tables and phones out of prisons, bring back corporal and capital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-bates/let-us-leave-the-eec-abolish-human-rights-laws-take-tv-sets-pool/)

[Ken Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-bates/)

> [Earth is the insane asylum of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/earth-is-the-insane-asylum-of-the-universe/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I rejoice that liberty . . . now finds an asylum in the bosom of a regularly organized government; a government, which, being formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-rejoice-that-liberty-now-finds-an-asylum-in-the-bosom-of-a/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [This is called 'the land of the free and the home of the brave'; it is called the 'asylum of the oppressed,' and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wells-brown/this-is-called-the-land-of-the-free-and-the-home-of-the-brave-it-is/)

[William Wells Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wells-brown/)

> [The lunatics have taken over the asylum and we can do anything we want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-lunatics-have-taken-over-the-asylum-and-we-can-do-anything-we-want/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [ We cannot possibly take them all into this country \[asylum seekers\] - it is a completely unrealistic expectation. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-howard/we-cannot-possibly-take-them-all-into-this-country-asylum-seekers-it/)

[Michael Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-howard/)

> [I shouldn't make movies anymore. I should go to a lunatic asylum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-shouldn-t-make-movies-anymore-i-should-go-to-a-lunatic-asylum/)

[Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/)

> [Hollywood is a cross between a health farm, a recreation center and an insane asylum. It's a company town, and I happen to like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/hollywood-is-a-cross-between-a-health-farm-a-recreation-center-and-an/)

[Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/)

> [I decided that we'd have to take our chances with the law and get the hell out of Baltimore. I thought of seeking asylum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/i-decided-that-we-d-have-to-take-our-chances-with-the-law-and-get-the/)

[Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/)

> [South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-petigru/south-carolina-is-too-small-for-a-republic-and-too-large-for-an/)

James L. Petigru

> [I had, toward the last, been shut off from all visitors, and so when the lawyer, Peter A. Hendricks, came and told me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-bly/i-had-toward-the-last-been-shut-off-from-all-visitors-and-so-when-the/)

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> [I become more convinced that beings from other planets are using the Earth as a lunatic asylum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-become-more-convinced-that-beings-from-other-planets-are-using-the/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

[Browse all 219 Asylums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asylums/)

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