The motion picture you are about to witness may startle you. It would not have been possible, otherwise, to sufficiently emphasize the frightful toll of the new drug menace which is destroying the youth of America in alarmingly increasing numbers. Marihuana is that drug – a violent narcotic – an unspeakable scourge – The Real Public Enemy Number One. Its first effect is sudden, violent, uncontrollable laughter; then come dangerous hallucinations – space expands – time slows down, almost stands still ... Fixed ideas come next, conjuring up monstrous extravagances – followed by emotional disturbances, the total inability to direct thoughts, the loss of all power to reist physical emotions ... Leading finally to acts of shocking violence ... Ending often in incurable insanity. In picturing its soul-destroying effects no attempt was made to equivocate. The scenes and incidents, while fictioned for the purposes of this story, are based upon actual research into the results of Marihuana addiction. If their stark reality will make you think, will make you aware of something must be done to wipe out this ghastly menace, then the picture will not have failed in its purpose ... Because the dread Marihuana may be reaching forth next for your son or daughter ... or yours ... Or YOURS! Reefer Madness (formerly Tell Your Children) 1936 starring Dorothy Short & Kenneth Craig & Lillian Miles & Dave O’Brien & Thelma White & Carleton Young & Warren McCullom & Pat Royale & Josef Forte & James Ard & Harry Harvey junior, director Louis Gasnier, rolling text
‘Police Wage War On Narcotic Ring!’ ibid. The Daily Bulletin
‘Dope Pedlars Caught In High School.’ ibid. The Evening News
‘You must stand united on this and stamp out this frightful assassin of our youth. You can do it by bringing about compulsory education on the subject of narcotics in general. The Great Marijuana in particular! That is the purpose of this meeting, ladies and gentlemen ... Only through enlightenment can this scourge be wiped out.’ ibid. Dr Carroll at parent-teacher association meeting
A field of marijuana was found behind a tenement court. ibid.
The Menace of Marijuana. ibid.
The only sure cure is a widespread of education. ibid.
‘Sixteen years old – and a marijuana addict. His is a most tragic case.’ ibid. federal spokesman
‘Yes. I remember. Just a young boy. Under the influence of the drug he killed his entire family. With an axe.’ ibid. Dr Carroll
‘You were always a fine student. You always had excellent grades ... You’re undermining your health. [I’ll study harder, honest] Honest? If you were being honest with me, honest with yourself, I’m afraid you’d tell me an entirely different story ... Isn’t it true that you have, perhaps unwillingly, acquired a certain harmful habit through association with certain undesirable people?’ ibid. Dr Carroll to Bill the straying student
‘All you’ve got to do is keep them from having too many reefers.’ ibid. Jack to her
Cannabis is the most popular drug in Britain with over two million people smoking it regularly. And a half of all young people have tried it at least once. James Alexandrou, Cannabis: What’s the Harm? 1/2, BBC 2010
Cannabis contains active chemical ingredients: the one that gets you high is THC – making you feel drowsy, lightheaded, and altering your perceptions. But there is an important counterbalance in the plant – it’s CBD or Cannabidiol which makes you feel alert and creative. Plants bred for a higher concentration of THC are known as Skunk. ibid.
Last year ... on average the police were busting a hundred and twenty cannabis growers a week. ibid.
Heat: this enables the police to use thermal imaging from surveillance helicopters to identify suspicious property. They don’t always get it right. ibid.
Cannabis is a Class B drug. ibid.
Some experts claim smoking a joint can cause the same level of impairment when driving as drinking four pints of beer. ibid.
Some cannabis turf wars have even ended in death. James Alexandrou, Cannabis: What’s the Harm? 2/2 BBC
The number of factories uncovered by police has soared by 800%. ibid.
Scientists haven’t always agreed whether cannabis is addictive. A government report three years ago confirmed however what I’d just heard – that heavy cannabis users do experience psychological cravings for the drug and physical withdrawal. ibid.
There are many smuggling routes into the UK. ibid.
Today Avon & Somerset police are raiding suburban houses in Bristol and thermal imaging revealed unusual levels of heat coming from the building. ibid.
Vietnamese gangs arrived in London at the start of the last decade ... Their business model involves turning a network of ordinary suburban homes into cannabis farms. They had enormous success with this in Canada before moving to Britain. According to the police for much of the last decade 60% of UK cannabis farms are run by Vietnamese criminal gangs. ibid.
There will always be violent organised crime groups wanting to satisfy this demand. ibid.
In the last three, four, five years we’ve seen a great phenomenon of indoor marijuana growers, and that’s all around the country. Mark R Trouville, US Drug Enforcement Agency
An insulator against the pain of racism. Louis Armstrong
It really puzzles me to see marijuana connected with narcotics ... dope and all that crap. It’s a thousand times better than whiskey – it’s an assistant – a friend. Louis Armstrong
Growing your own cannabis is seen as an ethical decision. Dr Gary Potter, criminologist
Gradually this develops into a sort of paranoia ... If they start smoking before fifteen it seems to have a much greater risk of developing some of the harmful things of smoking the drug, like psychosis. Dr Celia Morgan, University College London
Here in Los Angeles there are currently more cannabis dispensaries than there are Starbucks. Dr Celia Morgan
Cannabis is now the Number One cash crop in America. Dr Celia Morgan
A couple of hundred in a week. When dealing started it was the buzz of being the guy that had what people wanted. It was never about money for me. It was never about gang culture ... By doing what I was doing I was worth something. Clyde, ex-dealer South London, Drugs counsellor Hope UK, cited James Alexandrou, Cannabis: What’s the Harm? 2/2, BBC 2011
We found out it makes them happy. Dr Leo E Hollister
I was smoking Temple Ball when you were still buzzing on Leb, mate ... Don’t worry about me: I’m the puff king. The Firm 2009 starring Daniel Mays & Paul Anderson & Calum MacNab & Doug Allen & Joe Jackson & Richie Campbell & James Kelly & Jaf Ibrahim & Tommy Nash & Eddie Webber et al, director Nick Love
I know who they are: all got wedge haircuts and smoke black. ibid.
One fag between ten of them, eh? Rab C Nesbitt: Further, BBC 1994
It’s just Govan with joysticks. ibid.
Managed properly, cannabis is one of the most valuable medicines. Sir John Russell Reynolds, physician of Queen Victoria, 1890
We have observed that cannabinoids have an effect of inducing death in cancer cells. Professor Manuel Guzman, University of Madrid
Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection. The Washington Post online article 26th May 2006
The long-term consumption of cannabis in moderate doses has no harmful effects. Baroness Wootton’s Home Office Report 1969: Cannabis
There is no evidence that this activity is causing violent crime or aggression. ibid.
Possession of a small amount of cannabis should not normally be regarded as a serious crime to be punished by imprisonment. ibid.
Every reefer is loaded with immorality and beastial perversion. Public information film
Marijuana in my opinion should be legalised. Shirley MacLaine, The Parkinson Show
About a hundred tons. The Drug Smuggler Meets Tim Shaw, Chris Chance
I had a bodysock made. ibid.
An immense feeling of euphoria – I’ve beaten them. ibid.
I’d been grassed. They were waiting for me. ibid.
What was going through my mind? There’s like an anvil in my chest that’s suddenly been put there ... A depression that’s very hard to describe. ibid.
I got off ... They charged me with drugs smuggling when they didn’t know what was in the petrol tank. ibid.
If you want to do this thing, be prepared to die. ibid.
If anybody thinks they can just drive over to Morocco and pick stuff up they’re going to end up at the bottom of the Mediterranean. ibid.
Crime only pays to the ones who we don’t know about. ibid.