reefer madness / anti-medical marijuana

THE REEFER MADNESS ERA BOOKS

Index of Reefer Madness Comic Books

Danger #4

ADVENTURE COMICS 1939 - Five star reefer madness rating:
Pub: Detective Comics. Inc. 420 De Soto Ave. St. Louis, Mo.
Issue #39 - June 1939:
#39 - This episode of the “Federal Men” (by Siegel and Schuster, the creators of Superman) has Ace G-Man Steve Carson tracking down a school janitor who's selling Marihuana to innocent high school kids. The case begins after a group of youngsters rob and kill a gas station attendant and then drive off weaving haphazardly and hit an innocent pedestrian - all under the influence of Marihuana (the weed of madness). This leads Steve Carson to a high school where he matches wits with a dope-peddling janitor. Great unforgettable story lines such as: “Marihuana the drug that causes the smoker to lose all moral restraint-then this case comes under federal jurisdiction!” Must reading for all reefer madness fans.

ALL TRUE ROMANCE -1951-1956
Pub:- Harwell Publication, Inc., 500 4th. Ave., New York.
Issue #10 -- March 1953:
#10- "Gang Girl" - This is NOT, repeat, NOT a reefer madness story. It is however, a good example of how an Internet auctioneer can drum up business. Despite the sales description: "Classic headlights cover, hypo panel, marijuana + drug use panels in 'Gang Girl': "Enjoying yourself, baby? Here take a drag on this! It'll pep you up! It's got a kick like nothing else! Ha, ha, ha." - But other than that one panel -- nothing -- no actual mention of Medical Marihuana.
Issue #14 - November 1953:
#14 - "Dread Past" - Unless your into girl romance etc., the story is not worth reading. Something about a nurse who goes wrong and messes up during an operation. Anyway, the word Marihuana never actually comes up, only words like weed, tea etc. Again, not worth reading.

BEN CASEY
Pub - Dell Publishing Co., 750 3d Ave., New York 17, N.Y.
Issue #4 - February 1963: - Three star reefer madness rating:
#4 - “Terror at 59 West" - A criminal punk, addicted to Marihuana and Heroin, named “Creep Canova” (the character's real name), causes a lot of trouble. And although the story only mentions Marihuana, still, how can one forget one of the panels, which reads: -- “I thought that smell was familiar. ‘MARIJUANA!’ Imagine. A young kid like this on the stuff!”

The BLUE BEETLE - '38-'50
Pub - Fox Feature Comics
Issue #4 - [note, museum has a poor copy, but it's better than nothing]
#4 (Fall 1940) - The Blue Beetle must stop a gang of marihuana dope peddlers that seem to be selling marihuana to high school aged young people. The story seems to follow the same one that was used in the blue beetle radio program (see radio plays). But here the word marijuana is used more than once.

BOY (illustories) COMICS
Pub - Lev Gieason Publications, Inc., 114 e. 32nd St., New York 16, N.Y.
Issue #71 - November 1951: - Four star reefer madness rating:
#71- "The High Cost of Dying" - Yes, spelled wrong as Marajuana a couple of times, bad guy mentions it, gets a kid to smoke a "Mexican cigarette". A must read.
Issue #73 - January 1952
#73 - Contains one of the “Frazetta” - Anti-Drug Ads (short one-page comic stories), “We Can Stop the Enemies of Youth.” While Medical Marihuana is not actually mentioned, there is no question exactly what the “Dope” is. Part of the ad reads: “All young men and women should report Dope peddlers to their parents, their clergymen, their teachers, the police . . etc. “

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT - 1948-1955:
Pub - Lev Gieason Publications, Inc., 114 e. 32nd St., New York 16, N.Y.
Issue #69 - October 1954 - Four star reefer madness rating:
#69- "THE HOT ROD GANG" dope crazy kids - The title says it all, “Dope Crazy Kids and soaped up Hot Rods means DEATH ON WHEELS!” Of course the Drug is Marihuana (reefers), a good juvenile delinquent story -- Must reading.

CRIME MYSTERIES -1952-1954
Pub -Trojan
Issue #2 July, 1952
#2- This cool vintage pre-code Horror comic was published by Trojan back in 1952. Classic A. C. Hollingsworth cover on this one, with a terrific crime tale concerning a "reefer" distribution ring at the local college

DANGER- 1953-1954
Pub -comic media/ Allen Hardy Associates New York, N.Y.
Issue #4
#4 Marijuana Cover Story - Something about the border patrol. - Despite the cover, it's simply not worth reading.

DAREDEVIL COMICS -1942-1956 (Not the marvel DAREDEVIL a different one):
Pub - Lev Gieason Publications, Inc., 114 e. 32nd St., New York 16, N.Y.
Issue #82 - Jan. 1952
#82 -Comic contains the same “Frazetta” Anti-drug ad “We Can Stop the Enemies of Youth” as “BOY ILLUSTORIES #73."

DARING ADVENTURES
Pub -Super Comics, Inc., 62 West 47 St., New York 36, N.Y.
Issue #11 - reprint (1963) of DYNAMIC COMICS #16-(different cover)- Five star reefer madness rating:
#11- “Sorry -"No Cigarettes Today.” Teen-age crime fighter “Yankee Boy” battles the “Reefer King” in a story titled “Sorry - No Cigarettes Today.” The plot involves: -- A Cigarette salesman, talked into using his shop to sell reefers. -- A young boy (after smoking a reefer) becomes a robber. -- A kindly police officer (the kind that gives candy to lost children) guards over a schoolyard. OK, one gets the picture. Must reading.

DETECTIVE COMICS - (Jan. 1940):
Pub -
Issue #35 - Jan. 1940
#35- Hypo-cover - Not a drug comix, it’s just that the cover has a hypo on the cover - big deal, I wouldn’t even bother to read it. However, by accident there is a story "Speed Saunders - Ace Investigator and the Voodoo Vengeance" that mentions “HEMP” in it.

DOLL MAN (the world's mightiest mite)- '46-53
Pub - Comic Favorites, Inc., 163 Pratt St. Meriden, Conn.
Issue #39 - April 1952
#39 “Narcotics The Deadly Menace of The Death Drug” - While the story is about a New Kind of Plant Drug (Zombie), Marihuana is mentioned, in one panel which reads: “What’s a new kind of DRUG got to do with us, monk? We got lots of customers for Heroin, and Marijuana and the usual stuff!” But in general, the story is not worth reading. Oh the Dollman is the size of a Barbie.

DYNAMIC COMICS - Oct. 1941-to- May 1948
Pub Dynamic Publications, Holyoke, Mass
Issue #16 - (see DARING ADVENTURES #11) MICHIGAN STATE University Library (has a copy) EEM - OCLC: 22527960
#16- Marijuana story - A YANKEE BOY story about an evil Marijuana dealer "The Reefer King--a sinister salesman of cigarettes that kills off the smoker's souls!"

DYNAMITE - 53-54
Pub Comic Media/Allen Hardy Publ.'New York, NY
Issue #Sept. 1953 Dynamite Comics #3 [sort of has a few references to reefers, but not really a reefer madness story. 1st. app. Johnny Dynamite the Wild Man from Chicago, Drug Story, Girl using Marijuana and Heroin Shot Pusher in face at close range. - Publication: New York, NY Allen Hardy Associates, Inc., Year: 1953- Description: no.1 (May 1953)-no.9 ((Sept. 1954); 9 v. :; Chiefly col. ill.; 26 cm.

FAMOUS GANGSTERS: - '51-'52
Pub Avon,
Issue #3
#3- The opening page of this comic says the following... "Junk! That is the underworld name for the narcotics that are seeping in ever increasing quantities into America's blood stream! Junk is a fitting name, for in it's clutches, junk is what human beings become...The picture beside this caption shows two young adults smoking what most likely is Marihuana. -- Not really a reefer madness story, Marihuana in not actually even mentioned. - Not worth reading.

FEATURE COMICS, 1939-1950
Pub Quality comics Group
Issue #56 [ Wanted - The Museum Does not have and is looking for a copy]
#56- Marijuana Story in "Swing Session begins,” I had a chance to look over the story. It’s about a night club owner that sells reefer cigarettes on the side. Well actually he does more than that etc. DC LIBRARY OF CONGRESS (has a copy) - Publication: Buffalo, N.Y. Comic Favorites, Year: 1939-1950 - OCLC: 20032203

FIGHT AGAINST CRIME Story Comics '51-54
Pub Story Comics Inc., 7 E. 44th. St. Ny 17, N.Y.
Issue #4 Nov. 1951- - Five star reefer madness rating:
#4- "Hopped Up Killer" - The true story of 'Wallace Reagan,' a small time punk until a gun moll introduced him to Marihuana! The evil cigarettes made him into a cop killer. Lot's of reefer madness stereotypes. If you only read one reefer madness comic book, this is the one to read.

GANGSTERS AND GUN MOLLS - '51-'52
Pub Avon Periodical/Realistic Comics
Issue #3
#3 - Not a reefer madness story. Marihuana is only mentioned once and then only under the word Weed, In "Janita Perez - the gypsy killer." The story seems to be about a bad girl who started early and committed every kind of crime possible. Even running a dope ring. In one of the seen(s) she says " You wanted out -- But your can never get away from the WEED habit. -- It eats into you--You've got to have it!" -- Not worth reading.

GHOST RIDER
Pub Magazine Enterprises, 11 park Place, New York 7, N.Y.
Issue #6 -1951 - Three star reefer madness rating:
#6 - "The Death of Rex Fury!" Loco Weed (the western term for Medical Marihuana) is used by a couple of villains to get them “high” just before committing their crimes.
Issue #8 - August 1952 - Five star reefer madness rating:
#8- “The Knife in the Night!” One of the villains “Weedy Smudgeon” (a hopeless Loco Weed smoker) robs a visiting opera singer. His purpose, to obtain more smokes from his boss and controller, the villainous undertaker Amos Drizly. But fear not, the Ghost Rider is soon on the trail.

GREEN HORNET COMICS - 1940-1949
Pub Various Publishers
Issue #46 July 1949
#46 - Front cover - “Case of the Marijuana Racket” Story is about a marihuana ring that operates out of an Amusement park. The story itself is a bore, but the cover art is ok.

The GREEN MASK
Pub Fox Features syndicate -
Issue #3 - 1940 or 1941 ??
#3- "Gang Buster Robinson" The comic does have a marihuana mention story in it, but it's not a "Green Mask" story, instead it’s a "Gang-Buster" Robinson (By Harold Vance) story. The story involves a newly appointed prosecutor who battles against a Gang of dope peddlers. Needless to say the dope is medical marihuana. Not really a reefer madness story, but worth reading.

INFORMER - (TV)
Pub Feature Television Productions, 480 Lexington Ave., New York 17, N.Y.
Issue #2 - June, 1954
#2-- A Heroin story, the only mention of Medical Marihuana is as follows: “St Louis knew the kid all right, her name was Mella Trebs as a lark, she’d started on reefers in high school. At 16 Mella was already on Horse (heroin) when the cops first picked her up.” Sort of a Medical Marihuana as a starter drug, etc. - Not worth reading.

KERRY DRAKE DETECTIVE CASES -'44-52
Pub- Harvey Enterprises, Inc., 420 DeSoto Ave., St. Louis T, Mo.
Issue #9 - Date? can be assumed to be Aug. 1948. - Five star reefer madness rating:
#9- Originally published as a Newspaper comic strip series, later reprinted in comic book format. The last few pages form a part of an ongoing anti-Marijuana story, contained in issue #10.
Issue #10 - September 1948 - Five star reefer madness rating:
#10- Two-part of a Marijuana story - Kerry smokes Marijuana -- A truly evil story about the evils of Marihuana in which both Ace investigator (for the DA) and his young sidekick, Curly, accidentally smoke the WEED of Madness. Panels show: Distorted illusions, false exhilaration, distorted distance and time frames. Must be seen to be believed -- Must reading.

THE KILLERS '47-'48
Pub - Magazine Enterprises, 11 park Place, New York 7, N.Y.
Issue #2 - 1948 - Three star reefer madness rating:
#2- “Assassins! Mad Slayers of the East!" The story of “Hassan Ibn Saban” (aka the old man of the mountain) and how he used marihuana to drug his assassins into killing for him. Note: This was a favorite Harry Anslinger (former drug czar) story, but alas a fake. Marco Polo (to whom all refer) clearly stated that the drug in question was opium, not Medical Marihuana.

MAD:
Pub - Educational Comics, Inc., 225 Lafayette St., New York 12, N.Y.
Issue #4 - April/May 1953:
#4- "The FLOB WAS A SLOB" The story of Ramona Snarfl, a typical American girl, who had to choose between two lovers. One a fat slob and the other a handsome male. The choice at first was obvious, but after a few nights out with him, she started to notice a few odd things, like where did he get his money etc. So she goes back to the fat slob. However in the end she sees the light and the last panel shows her selling reefers to grammar school kids. The captions reads, “I was no fool! It’s the night clubs for me! Hey kids wanna buy some weeds, cheap? C’mon look, fork over your lunch money! C’mon before the teacher comes.. . . It’s hard to take MAD magazine seriously.

More Fun Comics
Pub - Detective Comics - St. Louis, Mo. :
Issue #25 - October 1937 - Five star reefer madness rating:
#25 - Oct. 1937 - "The marijuana Racket" part 1 - a Johnny Law adventure - Note the date, this may be the first reefer madness story out there---and a horror of one it is. Story concerns starts out when a young marihuana addict shoots dead an innocent women. This puts Johnny Law on the hunt for a gang of marihuana peddlers: "Chief, I don't care how we do it, But we must stop this peddling of dope to kids! That kid that did the shooting this afternoon was a victim of marihuana." …… "Johnnie, the marijuana peddling isn't an ordinary rocket, it isn't done by organized crime but by small time racketeers" Needless to say, Johnny thinks differently, --- will he stop the gang? We will have to wait until we can get a copy of "More Fun comics #26" where the story continues.

More Fun Comics Year: 1936-1947
Issue #26 [ Wanted - The Museum Does not have and is looking for a copy - We assume that the story is in this issue]
#26 - "The marijuana Racket" part 2 - a Johnny Law adventure - Nov. 1937 DC LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DLC OCLC: 14637170 Publication: St. Louis, Mo. : Detective Comics.

MISTER UNIVERSE (Professional wrestler)- '51-'52
Pub -Media Publications, Inc., 1775 Broadway, New York 19, N.Y.
Issue #3 - Dec. 1951 - Five star reefer madness rating:
#3 "Dope Menace" A gang of (adult) marihuana peddlers, is using (high school) teen-age gangs to sell the weed of madness to other high school students. Can Mr. Universe (pro wrestler) stop them and their diabolical plot?

NUTS!-
Pub -
Issue #3 -
#3- Drug "reefers" mentioned (but only as part of a joke, not a reefer madness article), not worth reading.

PANIC 1954
Pub (EC) Comic-
Issue #3 - July 1954
#3- Old King Cole smokes marijuana - This is only a 3 panel story; Panic magazine (sort of like MAD) also treats it as a joke. But this is among the first (let’s get real) stories ever put to print. We only have the cover and (Old King Cole) story page.

PERFECT CRIME, THE: 49-53
Pub - Cross Publications
Issue #15 [ Wanted - The Museum Does not have and is looking for a copy]
#15- "The Most Terrible Menace" - 2 page drug editorial- This tells of the "Drug Pusher" giving away free Marijuana and then getting them started on the harder drugs.

THE PERFECT CRIME - 49-53
Pub - Cross Publications, Inc., 9 West 57th Street, New York 19, N.Y.
Issue #18 - November 1951 - Two star reefer madness rating:
#18 Drug cover + 2 page drug editorial "No time lost."

POLICE COMICS
Pub Comics Magazine Inc. S. Lord St., Buffalo, N.Y.
Issue #2 -
#2- Plastic Man smuggles opium - deals only with opium, and yes Plastic Man pretends to be a criminal and helps smuggles some opium, etc… Ignore:
Issue #4 - November 1941
Issue #5 - December 1941 - Five star reefer madness rating:
Issues #4, 5 - The evil “Madam Brawn,” the head of an extortion racket that is terrorizing the city, captures poor Plastic Man and forces him to smoke reefers. The next panel shows him running around in a drug dazed state, shooting a gun up in the air saying, “Whee!! I’m a Killer,” etc, etc. All effects of the reefers, of course. Must reading.

PRISON RIOT
Pub - Avon Periodicals, Inc., 878 Madison Ave., New York 22, New York.
Issue #1 - 1952 (month unknown)
#1[c]- Marijuana Murders -One page text story - "a white, sand-like powder poured. It glistened in the light of the street lamp. When the cop on the beat came running up to the body---- he recognized right away that the stuff was marijuana." etc.. [- Copyright states -- All names in this periodical are entirely fictitious and no identification with actual persons is intended.]

PRIZE COMICS WESTERN - 48-'56
Pub
Issue #92 - Four star reefer madness rating:
#92-"Dope Teen-Age Menace" A one page anti-Dope Ad or Story: (boy starts out on reefers goes on to heroin from there on) --Note, this is not the "Frazetta” Anti-drug ad, found on numerous Lev Gleason comic books. Should be read.

RACKET SQUAD IN ACTION - '52-'58
Pub - Charlton Comics Group, Charlton Building, Derby, Conn.
Issue #14 - January 1955 - Four star reefer madness rating:
#14- "Shakedown" - Jan 1955 - The story starts as a marijuana peddler is killed (by other crooks) so that they can take over his territory. Some reference to the reefer addicts, but most of the story is about the drug dealers (+ police) themselves.

REALISTIC ROMANCES - 1951-1954
Pub Avon Periodicals, Inc., 573 Madison Ave., New York 22, N.Y.
Issue #16 - / [same story found in Romantic Love #6] - Five star reefer madness rating:
#16- Story is titled “My Scandalous Affair!” The story of a fast and easy girl, but one day she goes too far, to a reefer party. --- “The taste was bitter and it choked me….the room began to spin …. I inhaled a few more puffs and began to grow deathly sick!” --- Her boyfriend (also under the influence of marihuana) tries to kill her etc. And after a few months she ends up in a mental institution where she sees first hand the effects of the evil weed. One plate has a doctor saying: -- “That girl is only Five years older than you. She started the way you did and went much further, and now it’s too late!” [Picture shows a very elderly looking woman, in a haze] --- But fear not, romance comic book fans, she recovers from her addiction and gets together with her old boyfriend. A happy ending.

REFORM SCHOOL GIRLS:
#1 - (See Teen-Aged Dope Slaves/Reform School Girls)

ROMANTIC LOVE - '49-54
#6- "Thrill Crazy" Marijuana story - (same as Realistic Romance #16)

ROUNDUP (Western Crime) - '48-'49
Pub - D.S. Publishing Company, Inc., 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20, N.Y.
Issue # 2- Sept/Oct., 1948
#2- "Wise Guy of the Prairie" -- Although the word Marihuana is never mentioned (only dope) it is clear what the dope has to be. The story concerns smuggling the stuff across the border. Not worth reading.

SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES -1952-1955
Pub EC comics
Issue #10 - Dec. 195 Three star reefer madness rating:
#10- Junkie story Yup -- called "reefer" -- the boy gets in with a gang, they urge him to smoke, it soon leads to "stronger stuff" and he gets the electric chair in the end. That's what smoking the stuff does to ya, you know!
Issue # 12 - Five star reefer madness rating:
#12- “The Monkey.” The story of a young, clean-cut, high-school kid Eddie Anderson, who is talked into using Marihuana by a dope peddler. The 2nd cigarette wasn’t for free (anymore), it cost him plenty. Eddie thereafter goes on to harder and harder drugs, etc., enough said. Moral of the story - Marihuana is a starter drug.

SWEETHEARTS
Pub Charlton comics Group, Charlton Building, Derby, Conn.
Issue # 122 March 1954 - Five star reefer madness rating:
#122 - “I was a Musician’s Girl,” Louise, a young girl, must choose between two boys. One is “Drummer,” a “POD” (aka Medical Marihuana) smoking musician who flourishes in the dark shadows of cellar clubs. The other is Todd, a clean-cut handsome music writer. After a lot of “POD” and nightclub action, etc., Louise finally comes to her senses --- A happy ending.

TEEN-AGED DOPE SLAVES / REFORM SCHOOL GIRLS:
Pub They're Wild! They're Wanton! They're Willing! They're Teen-Aged Dope Slaves & Reform School Girls out for Kicks! Or at least that’s what the ad (on E-bay) says. The comix contains reprint stories from late 1940's and early 1950's, mostly from two titles, “Teen-aged Dope Slaves” and “Reform School Girls.” Stories include "The Deadly Needle," Trapped," and "Teen-Aged Dope Slaves"

TEEN-AGED DOPE SLAVES:
Issue #1
#1- Teen-Age Dope Slaves as exposed by Rex Morgan M.D [Note: this is an anti-drug comic book, Not a reefer madness story] marihuana is mentioned only in 2 or 3 panels and only by the name of weed. - Only the first seven pages (of over 20) are included on the museums CD-ROM/

TEEN-AGE TEMPTATIONS '52-54
Issue #8 [ Wanted - The Museum Does not have and is looking for a copy] [OverStreet (an industrial price guide) states the following - #8- Teenagers smoke reefers.

TRAPPED:
Pub Columbia University Press
Issue # N/A - 1951 - Five star reefer madness rating:
#- Anti-Medical Marihuana, anti-Drug education comic. Prepared by “the Committee on Narcotics - N.Y City,” and distributed at public schools. - Bill Jones, a clean-cut, high-school kid, is conned (in the boys restroom) into trying Marihuana. It’s all downhill for him after that. His schoolwork suffers, he gets into fights with his parents, etc. And while his girlfriend, teachers, etc., try to help, soon he moves on to hard drugs. (Medical Marihuana = starter drug - everyone knows that.) Only after he is arrested and put in jail does he come to his senses. Note: This is a “white people only” comic book, not a single non-white in the place. A must read.

TRUE CRIME COMICS:
Pub Magazine Village, Inc. 114 East 32nd St., New York 16, N.Y.
Issue # 5 - April 1949 - Five star reefer madness rating:
#5- "I Was A Racket Girl," - A young aspiring actress and her boy friend gets involved in a marihuana selling racket. Lots of stereotypes words etc., must reading.

TRUE LOVE CONFESSIONS - '54-'56
Pub Premier Magazines, Inc., 11 East 44th Street, New York 17, N.Y.
Issue # 1 - May 1954
#1- Marihuana is only mentioned once in the story --- the medical marihuana lie that it effects ones ability to safely drive an automobile. Other than that it's a typical romance story. Not worth reading

UNDER WORLD CRIME
Pub Fawcett Publications, Inc. Fawcett Pl., Greenwich, Conn,
Issue #5 - March, 1951
#5- "River of Blood"- -Not a reefer madness comic. Although the subject marihuana does come up (in a negative way), the story is more about some Mexican (undocumented workers) than anything else.

1948 WANTED Comics:
Pub Toytown Publications Inc., 420 DeSoto Ave., St. Louis 7, Mo.
Issue #13 1948
#13- Marihuana is only briefly mentioned on the first and second pages. The story (mostly about some gangsters and smuggling) does include a panel with the commissioner of the bureau of narcotics, but He looks nothing like Harry Anslinger. -- Not worth reading.

WANTED COMICS
Pub Toytown Publications Inc., 420 DeSoto Ave., St. Louis 7, Mo.
Issue #14 - July 1948
#14- Classic Golden Age PRE-CODE CRIME comic with a MARIJUANA mention story. - A short (2 page) story about Vincent Pellicer, a marihuana peddler. The story is about a trunk bought at an action that had medical marihuana in it. Soon the DEA gets into the act etc… I believe it is the same story as that described in a true detective magazine. The story ends with a ---"If you know his location, notify Commissioner H. Anslinger, Bureau of Narcotics." comic book story is not worth reading.
See Leading Detective Magazine - May 1947 [ Museum magazine section ]

WANTED COMICS
Pub Toytown Publications Inc., 420 DeSoto Ave., St. Louis 7, Mo.
Issue #18 -February 1949 - Five star reefer madness rating:
#18- The story “Satan's Cigarettes,” based on actual police files (would the police or the publisher lie to us?), was also re-released as “The No. 1 Enemy” in a later issue. The story starts as follows: ---- “Do you want to buy Madness, Pain, and Horror? Do you want to join the ranks of pitiful fools who have blazed the trail to destruction? Then come closer and have a cigarette. A SPECIAL kind of cigarette…” The plot revolves around an honest, hardworking (tobacco) shopkeeper who is tricked into selling “a special kind of cigarette” to Marihuana addicts. The story's dialogue would make even Ross Potts (the Dare Guy) proud. Examples:--- “Today the menace of Marihuana is being combatted by every law enforcement agency in the United States… It is a vicious racket.” …My favorite scene has the underworld gang leader saying: -- “Marihuana is for SAPS and spineless jellyfish! It makes you GOOFY WEAK UPSTAIRS! Let the weaklings smoke it - We get rich on it see?” “Nobody knows what a poison it is like we do.”

WANTED COMICS (March 1949):
Pub Toytown Publications Inc., 420 DeSoto Ave., St. Louis 7, Mo.
Issue #19 - March 1949
#19- The publisher offers a $100 reward for information leading to the capture of Joe Dentico, wanted by the commissioner of narcotics. According to one panel, “Detico’s crime is one of the most bestial and degrading known to humanity!” Note, the drug sold is never mentioned and (while it could be) it most likely is not Medical Marihuana.

WANTED COMICS Toytown Publications/ Patches/ Orbit Pub.
Pub Toytown Publications Inc., 420 DeSoto Ave., St. Louis 7, Mo.
Issue #24 - Jan. 1950 - Four star reefer madness rating:
#24- “THE DOPE KING”- The police are baffled, Marihuana is showing up. But where is it coming from? None of the big time underworld gangs are behind it ---- The story of Johnny Larrone, a guineas of crime

WANTED COMICS
Pub Toytown Publications Inc., 420 DeSoto Ave., St. Louis 7, Mo.
Issue #39 - July 1951
#39- "The Horror weed" - The first few pages are pure reefer madness, (under the influence of marihuana, a robber becomes a cold blooded killer etc.,) but soon the story turns into a boring cops and smugglers theme etc. Can't really recommend nor not recommend a read.

WANTED COMICS
Pub Orbit Publications, Inc., 420 DeSoto Ave., St. Louis 7, Mo.
Issue #45 - February 1952- Five star reefer madness rating:
# 45 “The No. 1 Enemy” - Re-titled story from issue #18, (then titled) “Satan’s Cigarettes.”

WANTED COMICS
Pub Orbit Publications, Inc., 420 DeSoto Ave., St. Louis 7, Mo.
Issue #51 - December 1952- Five star reefer madness rating:
#51- “Holiday of Horror,” A classic -- The true story of Larry Newson, a hopeless drug addict. Although the story deals more with Heroin, it has some great (Marihuana the starter drug) panels in it. Must reading.

WEIRD HORRORS - 1952-to-1953
Pub - St. John Publishing Company, 454 Fifth Ave., New York 17, N.Y.
Issue #3 - Oct. 1952
#3 - "The return of the Phantom Fakir" (from the Orient). A strange mental weakness has stricken an entire community, leaving them defenseless and unable to fight against slave raiders etc. News of this causes “Emir- The Phantom Fakir,” to investigate. Soon he hears that it is none other than the evil “Mustapha Kemall” who is behind the strange mental malady. After freeing a beautiful slave girl, he flies on a magic carpet to the stronghold of the evil Kemal. There after defeating both guards and the Kemal himself, he discovers the secret of the strange malady. An urn who’s vapors: --- “Are narcotic, not unlike the smoke from the HEMP weed. It drugged him with false courage, but he used the drug’s contrary effects to enslave the minds of his followers! ShaH-Ri Hasheesh! Destroy this evil urn” --- And the people are saved. It should be noted that Medical Marihuana is not mentioned by name, only by implication

YOUTHFUL HEARTS
Pub - Youthful Magazine, Inc. Holyoke Mass.
Issue # 1 -May 1952 Five star reefer madness rating:
#1- “Monkey on Her Back.” A classic: An orphaned college girl goes with her sister to a dinner and dance party. There her sister introduces her to some friends, one of whom is a (handsome) “Marijuana user.” Later on, she learns her sister is a drug addict. Sobbing, she learns how her sister started on medical marihuana (the starter drug) and moved on, Sob, Sob etc. Great dialogue, with sentences like: “Why, that’s marijuana!! Oh No., I couldn't! Haven't you been reading about Dope in the papers?” -- Note a few pages are missing -- story not complete. - Also note that Overstreet claims story is the same as "Shock SupenStories No. 12." but as can be seen this is not the case.

The following comic books may or may not contain reefer madness stories. The museum does not have a copy and would appreciate assistance in locating (even a photocopy of) any of them.

ALL TRUE POLICE DETECTIVE CASES - GOLDEN AGE BOOK PUBLISHED Oct/Nov 1951. This issue includes stories like... "a daring expose of America’s no. 1 youth problem--- drug addicts!" (Almost as comical as the classic "reefer madness" movie of the same era) as well as other (true??) stories on crime and murder.

ALL TRUE ROMANCE -'51-'56
#16 Heroin drug story

CHAMBER OF CLUES -Harvey Pub. '55
#19- Heroin story - possible not correct

Crackdown Comic 1955 Crackdown Comic The Dramatic Story of Ohio's Fight Against Narcotics. This is an anti-drug propaganda piece done in a comic book style from 1955, published by Dr. John C. Baker, Chairman, Citizen Narcotics Advisory Committee. The cover depicts a large metal hand smashing a syringe as several men flee the scene. This 6 page comic is incredibly hard to find. Item Condition: [Reefers are supposed to be mentioned but only in the first page or so] Title: Crackdown : The dramatic story of Ohio's fight against narcotics Author: Citizens Narcotics Advisory Committee OH BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIV BGU Publication: Cleveland, OH : Citizens Narcotics Advisory Committee, Year: 1950s Description: 1 v. : col. ill. ; 26 cm. SUBJECT(S) Descriptor: Narcotics, Control of -- Ohio -- Comic books, strips, etc. Narcotics -- Ohio. Comic books, strips, etc. Class Descriptors: LC: PN6720.1.C584 Responsibility: Citizens Narcotics Advisory Committee. OCLC: 44752013

DYNAMITE - Comic Media/Allen Hardy Publ.'53-54
#1- Morphine drug mention story 1953

DYNAMIC COMICS - 1941-1948
#10- Drug story

LIFE STORY -'49-'53
#13 -?

MURDER INCORPORATED - '48-'51
#81- Drug use story

SMASH COMICS- Quality comics group, 1939-1949
#56- Drug story

TEEN-AGE TEMPTATIONS 1952-1954
#1- Reform School Girl"

== == WARNING NOTES == == No attempt is made to even suggest that this index is in anyway, shape, or form, complete. With the exception of "Ben Casey," all mentioned comics are pre-(the comic book code of) 1955. Only North American comics are listed and it is openly admitted that we are still trying to confirm/dismiss other (non-indexed) comics. Additionally there is the "Subjective Factor," --Example: "The Mod Squad #2" (July 1969) and "Room 222 #3" (July 1970) while containing anti-marihuana stories, because of their late publication dates (well after the reefer madness era) are not included. Likewise, obvious propaganda (giveaway) comics like "What If They Call Me 'Chicken" (1970) and "Teen-age booby Trap" (a DEA publication) are not indexed while others like "Trapped" (1951) are. Naivete can be assumed in 1951, but not in 1970.

== These comics on CD-ROM == The museum has electronically scanned most of these comic-books stories into CD-ROM format.