Alcohol and Drugs History Society

Marijuana criminalized and medicalized, 1906-2004 (book)

Jeffrey M. London, How the Use of Marijuana was Criminalized and Medicalized, 1906-2004: a Foucaultian History of Legislation in America (Edwin Mellen Press, 2009).

Medical marijuana for teenagers

The New York Times reports that medical marijuana shops now often have teenagers among their customers.  For more, see here.

Los Angeles county medical marijuana dispensaries face prosecution

Medical marijuana dispensaries have operated under a 1996 LA law.  Recently courts have ruled that the dispensaries can't sell over the counter as almost all of them do.  There are about 800 medical pot dispensaries in the city of Los Angeles alone and others in outlying parts of the county.  For more, see here.

Drug Use and Addiction in War

Tom Langdale wrote this short article, dated July 9, 2009, for High 5 Men's Magazine.

Weed, booze, cocaine and other old school "medicine" ads

Intriguing assemblage of old illustrated advertisements on the blog "Pill Talk," June 9, 2009, here.

Weed, Booze, Cocaine and Other Old School "Medicine" Ads

Posted by Mark Jun 9th, 14:50

Granted, hindsight is 20/20, but some awfully strange substances have been used for pharmaceutical purposes in the past -- and some might argue, continue to be used today. Here are some vintage advertisements touting items that we might balk at taking today.

Cocaine:

Lloyd Cocaine Toothache Drops
In the US, cocaine was sold over the counter until 1914 and was commonly found in products like toothache drops, dandruff remedies and medicinal tonics.



Metcalf's Coca Wine
Coca wine combined wine with cocaine, producing a compound now known as cocaethylene, which, when ingested, is nearly as powerful a stimulant as cocaine.



Vin Mariani Wine
The marketing efforts for coca wine focused primarily on its medicinal properties, in part because it didn't taste very good and in part because the cocaethylene effects were perceived to "fortify and refresh body and brain" and "restore health and vitality."

Heroin:

Bayer Heroin
From 1898 through to 1910, heroin was marketed as a cough suppressant by trusted companies like Bayer -- alongside the company's other new product, Aspirin.



Smith Glyco-Heroin
A mixture of heroin and glycerin. "No other preparation has had its therapeutic value more thoroughly defined or better established."

Opium:

Pantopon Roche Injectable Opium
"Try Pantopon in place of morphine for dependable, optimum relief of pain."

Morphine:

Ayer's Cherry Pectoral
Depending on which list of contents you reference, this cure for colds, coughs and "all diseases of the throat and lungs" contained either morphine or heroin.



Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup
Contained 65 mg of morphine per fluid ounce. "For children teething."

Quaaludes:

Quaalude-300
Brand name for the now-illegal sedative methaqualone. "Now the physician has one less tired, sleepy and apprehensive patient to contend with."

Cigarettes:

Dr. Batty's Asthma Cigarettes
Cigarettes with unknown contents claimed to provide temporary relief of everything from asthma to colds, canker sores and bad breath. "Not recommended for children under 6."

Alcohol:

Anheuser-Bush's Malt-Nutrine
Starting in the late 1800s, many breweries produced "food tonics," malt beverages containing around 2% alcohol that were promoted as "food in liquid form," aiding in digestion, increasing appetite and aiding in sleep. "A boon to nursing mothers."



Pabst Extract
A malt tonic from Pabst. "The best tonic prepares the way for happy, healthy motherhood."

Chloroform:

Kimball White Pine and Tar Cough Syrup
Until 1976, chloroform was used in consumer products like cough syrup, toothpastes, ointments and other pharmaceuticals.

Marijuana:

Cosadein
This cough remedy contained, among other things, codeine, chloroform and cannabis.

Soda:

Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola was invented in the late 1800s as a "coca wine" (see above) mix of wine and cocaine, but the alcohol and cocaine were later replaced with syrup and coca leaves, respectively. Nevertheless, typical coca wine claims of increased vitality remained for many years.



"A valuable brain tonic, and a cure for all nervous affections -- sick head-ache, neuralgia, hysteria, melancholy."

Amphetamines:

Biphetamine
A combination of two amphetamines; known popularly as "black beauties." Marketed for its weight loss benefits.



Norodin
Brand name for methamphetamine. "The selective cerebral action of Norodin is useful in dispelling the shadows of mild mental depression."



Dexedrine
Brand name for dextroamphetamine. "Many of your patients -- particularly housewives -- are crushed under a load of dull, routine duties that leave them in a state of mental and emotional fatigue...Dexedrine will give them a feeling of energy and well-being, renewing their interest in life and living."

Barbiturates:

McNeil Butisol Sodium 
Brand name for butabarbital. "Mabel is unstable...it's 'that time' in her life. To see her through the menopause, there's gentle 'daytime sedation' in Butisol Sodium."



Nembutal Suppositories
Brand name for pentobarbital. "When little patients balk at scary, disquieting examinations...When they need prompt sedation (and the oral route isn't feasible)...try Nembutal sodium suppositories...There is little tendency toward morning-after hangover."



Lakeside Pentobarbital and Phenobarbital
"When crisis demands quick-acting hypnotics."

Unknown-Content Quackery:

Dr. Miles' Nervine
"Since I have been taking Nervine, nothing bothers me."



Wolcott's Instant Pain Annihilator
"A speedy & permanent cure for headache, toothache, neuralgia, catarrh and weak nerves."



Dalley's Magical Pain Extractor
"Molly Pitcher, the heroine of Monmouth, avenging her husband's death."



Dr. Ham's Aromatic Invigorator
A "cure for Dyspepsia, Low Spirits, Nervousness, Heartburn, Colic Pains, Wind in the Stomach or Pains in the Bowels, Headache, Drowsiness, Kidney and Liver Complaints, Melancholy, Delirium Tremens, and Intemperance."

Perhaps 600 medical marijuana shops in Los Angeles today

Four years ago there were only four medical marijuana shops in Los Angeles, but today--despite a supposed moratorium on new pot shops--the estimated number is about 600. Sometimes two or three cluster on the same block, even near schools. The marijuana shops are easily recognized by a saw-tooted cannabis leaf on the front of the building.  For more, see the Los Angeles Times article here.

History of marijuana on Showtime TV channel

The TV channel Showtime has begun a history of cannabis called "Weeds." The next episode is Monday June 8, 2009 at 10PM ET/PT.  Previous episodes can be found on YouTube.

In California "medical marijuana" laws makes pot mainstream

In California virtually anyone who says that "medical marijuana" will help his or her health can get a friendly physician to authorize its use.  For details, see the Washington Post story, here.

Cannabis history (book)

Martin Booth, Cannabis: A History (Paw Prints Press, 2008). Reprint.

Skunk

The Times traces the history of super-potent cannabis and its effects in Britain.  Find the full article here.