The Attack on Marijuana During the 1930s - Listen - Historical

The Attack on Marijuana During the 1930s

Listen now

Description

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. Music: "On the Ground" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

More Episodes

See all »

America's Prison Population Bomb

Following the death and torture of a DEA agent, the War on Drugs is taken to even greater heights. In the final episode of the Historical Controversies "War on Drugs" series, Chris Calton explains the legislation and police operations that led to America having the world's largest prison population.

Published 10/25/17

Crack Babies, the Contras, and the CIA

During the 1980s, the war on drugs became defined by cocaine and crack. In this episode, Chris Calton explains how the potent mix of politicians and fake news created the myth of the "crack baby", and the CIA became drug runners for the Contras.

Published 10/18/17

Just Say No: Reagan Militarizes the War on Drugs

In spite of declining drug usage, the Reagan Administration placed renewed interest in the War on Drugs. Chris Calton explains how President Reagan eliminated restrictions that prevented the US military from enforcing domestic laws, while also reducing Constitutional safeguards that prevented...

Published 10/11/17