The Attack on Marijuana During the 1930s

08/16/17 • -1 min

Season 1, Episode 2. How did Americans fall for the government's reefer madness? Chris Calton explains how junk science, overt racism, and myths of bloodthirsty soldiers all played a role in the criminalization of marijuana in America.

Previous Episode

The Roots of Drug Prohibition in America

Season 1, Episode 1. In the first episode of Historical Controversies, Chris Calton looks at how American society originally viewed drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroine, and he details the origins of prohibition in America.

Next Episode

The Milk of the Poppy

Season 1, Episode 3. Chris Calton looks at the history of opium use around the world. The tale takes us to baby farms in Victorian England, 19th Century China, and even one of the most prominent examples of fake news from the Washington Post.

For further reading, see Opium: A History edited by Martin Booth (St. Martin's Griffin, 1996).