Old Marijuana Movie Posters Reflect How Far Marijuana Propaganda Has Come
Image source: So Bad So Good
Many people have heard of "Reefer Madness", but there have been a number of other anti-marijuana propaganda films created dating back prior to WWII. The dubious claims disseminated in the old posters for these movies can be highly entertaining in their absurdity. Take a look at some of the posters here or here. Weed consumption has been linked with the following horrors:
- "Weird Orgies, Wild Parties, Unleashed Passions"
- "Makes Beasts of Men and Women"
- "Marijuana...the Smoke of Hell"
- "The deadly scourge that drags our children into the quagmires of degradation - your child may be next!"
- "Hunting a thrill...they inhaled a drag of concentrated sin!"
Although the posters are mostly preposterous, they do highlight how marijuana opponents have attempted to employ mis-information campaigns to build public opposition to the drug. Does this still happen today using different themes and positions?
I wonder if people decades or even centuries from now, after the therapeutic potential for marijuana has been thoroughly researched, will look back at current anti-marijuana claims similarly to how some of us now look back at these old marijuana posters. Regardless of the domain, we must attempt to validate our beliefs and positions with facts. Knowledge is power.
Sources
David Moye and Chris McConigal, Huffington Post, "These Old Marijuana Movie Posters May Scare You Into Smoking Pot"
So Bad So Good, "Laughable Anti-Marijuana Propaganda From 1930's"
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