MAGAZINES OF DECEPTION
THE REEFER MADNESS ERA

If you tell a big enough lie, tell it often enough
and the people will believe.

(The following is an)
Editorial Opinion
Q: WHY THE STUDY OF REEFER MADNESS?
A: Perhaps it is best to answer by example: My automobile insurance company has a strict policy, one DUI and you're cancelled. Because of this (despite numerous studies showing that Medical Marihuana does NOT effect your ability to safely drive an automobile), I though it best to check on its status.

It was then, while asking at a field agent's office, that one of the workers gave me one of the dirtiest looks in the planet. And it wasn't just a dirty look, it was dirty body language, tone of voice, everything. It was as if a Medical Marihuana patient was a cross between child molester and an evil member of the California Teachers Association. And unfortunately many others share her views. Why? How could anyone's mind be so twisted, so poisoned?

Unfortunately we are still suffering from the effects of what now has become known as the "Reefer Madness" campaign, which was first orchestrated by our Federal Government way back in the 1930's. The following is an example -- taken from the November 1938 issue of the "Sierra Educational News " - Official Journal of California Teachers Association.

"Marihuana has proven to be a drug of addiction and an alarming factor in the creation of degeneracy" ….."The vicious qualities of the drug render it highly dangerous to the body and mind upon which it operates. Eventually it weakens the physical powers. It destroys the will, causes the user to lose the power of connected thought, produces imaginary situations and frequently leads to insanity. … [That] the addict may develop a delirious rage and become temporarily irresponsible and likely to commit violent crimes."-- [The following examples were even given:] " "A man under the influence of the drug attempted to shoot his wife but killed her grandmother instead and then committed suicide." " "A man 25 years old, charged with criminally assaulting a 10-year-old girl, entered a plea of not guilty because of insanity. He was convicted and sentenced to death." " "A young boy … addicted to smoking marihuana cigarets killed his father, mother, two brothers and a sister, wiping out the entire family."

I mean no wonder that insurance lady gave me such a dirty look. If she were fed since childhood on a diet of such rubbish (and in all likelihood she was) it's a wonder she didn't shoot me or something.

Which now brings us back to the original question: "Why the study of Reefer Madness?" Because people still believe. A deliberate lie was started almost 70 years ago, and after all this time, people still believe.

F.A.Q.
(Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: What is the goal of the museum?
A: Our goal is to fully document the origin of the anti-Medical Marihuana laws (a.k.a. the Reefer Madness era) as well as the pre-1937 (meaning legal) uses of Cannabis.

Q: How can I help?
A: First, you can join the museum society; in addition we are always looking for volunteers to help us obtain copies of wanted magazine articles as well as various odd newspaper articles from libraries local to you.

JOIN THE MUSEUM SOCIETY
==== Become a member ====

Your membership dues (only $15 per year) keep the museum going and as a Museum Society member, you will receive a complete set of indexes and CD-ROMs, which include:

  • Documentation on over 600 pre-1942 medical marihuana products on a brand or trade name basis. Included are selected pages from numerous (1840-1942) pharmaceutical price and product catalogs, advertisements, etc. , as well as a complete set of all Museum pictures (including our censored ones).

  • The largest collection of Reefer Madness Magazine and Newspaper Articles collected anywhere.

  • The largest and best collection of Reefer Madness Comic Book stories available anywhere.

  • The Museum's collection of Reefer Madness OTR (Old Time Radio) programs.

  • A fine collection of (Reefer Madness era) pamphlets, book sections, encyclopedia definitions, pulp fiction (dime store novels) book covers, etc.

Contact Information: antique_andy@catholic.org


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