Historical Research on Drug Policy

1940

= Recommended Reading

• New! The Reefer Madness Collection - Hundreds of examples of hilarious Reefer Madness from history.
•   Federal Court Decisions 1940-1949
• Pinch Hitters for Defense - Popular Mechanics, December, 1941
• Hemp For Victory - By the US Department of Agriculture, 1942
• This is the transcript of the film done by the USDA to encourage farmers to grow hemp (marijuana) during World War II, because it was a vital resource for such uses as ropes, heavy cloth, etc.
• Grow Hemp for War (World War II Poster)
• Federal Agents Move on Narcotics Racket - New York Times April 9, 1942 - Concerted Raids Made Here and in Arizona-- 17 Indicted Here
• War Demands More Hemp - June, 1942 Source: Farm Journal and Farmer's Wife 
• Narcotics Traffic is Curbed by War, New York Times September 27, 1942-  League of Nations Section in Report Stresses Breach in Communications - Post-War Control Urged- Problems in Legitimate Use of 'Dangerous Drugs' Due to War Also Outlined
• A Crop for the Duration is . . . HEMP IN ILLINOIS - : January, 1943 -  The Illinois Agriculturist Author: Larry Mowers '45 Page: 56
• Gene Krupa is Arrested - New York Times January 21, 1943  He Denies He Sent Boy to Get Marihuana Cigarettes
• Krupa Sentenced in Drug Case -  New York Times May 19, 1943
• Can We Have Rope Without Dope? - September, 1943 - Popular Science
• Hemp Seed Project for 4-H Clubs - 1943
• The La Guardia Committee Report on Marijuana -- One of the most significant studies of marijuana.
• Experts Discount Marijuana as Big Factor In Crime but Drive on It Will Be Pressed

• This is an article from the New York Times, January 12, 1945, reporting the conclusions of the La Guardia Committee Report on marijuana. The committee found that the fears about marijuana were "unfounded" but the politicians swore to keep up the fight anyway.

• Marijuana Traffic is on the Increase - New York Times January 31, 1945 This City Is Focal Point, Says Treasury, Reporting Also More Heroin and Less Opium
• The Physician and the Federal Narcotic Law by Harry J. Anslinger - United States Commissioner of Narcotics. From: Tulane Law Review, Vol. XX No. 3, March 1946 pp. 309-332
• Junk Boats Barred from Harbor Here - NY Times May 12, 1946
• Senate Confirms Anslinger - NY Times, June 7, 1946
• Big Narcotic Cache Seized on Vessel -   New York Times February 5, 1947-- Ship From France Yields Heroin Valued at $250,000-- Called Largest Haul in 9 Years
• Senate Votes Narcotics Treaty - NY Times June 25, 1947
• Day Length and Flowering - Hemp - USDA Yearbook, 1947
• Drug Seizures Increase - New York Times February 8, 1948 - Treasury reports More Illicit Traffic and Lower Prices
• Customs Tightens Vigil on Narcotics - New York Times, March 10, 1948 - Efforts to frustrate Attempts at Smuggling Aboard Ships Spurred by Recent Haul
• Narcotics Protocol Signed by 47 Nations - The New York Times November 20, 1948
• Seizures Reach Peak in Cocaine and Heroin - The New York Times March 5, 1949
• LSD is discovered - Chapter 46 of the Consumers Union Report on Licit and Illicit Drugs