Part 7/15:
Crowe traces the origins of the anti-marijuana campaign, rooted in economic rivalries and racial prejudices. The term "marijuana" itself was a misnomer, used to associate the plant with dangerous minorities, thus fueling fear-mongering campaigns like “Reefer Madness.” Misinformation, propagated by powerful industries and media moguls like William Randolph Hearst, aimed to suppress hemp and cannabis—valuable crops—and promote synthetic materials. Crowe underscores the importance of recognizing these tactics today, as similar propaganda continues to influence legislation and societal attitudes.