The history of drugs in America is bizarre and complicated. Drugs that were once beloved by stressed, exhausted mothers can now land you in prison. Cocaine was abundant, sold by “snake oil” salesmen. Alcohol was much considered far more problematic than marijuana. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid responsible for deadly epidemics, is now less harshly regulated than LSD (which you cannot fatally overdose on).
The first nationwide attempt to control ingredients happened In 1906, just three years after the Wright brothers took flight. While several legal efforts were made since then, the phrase “War on Drugs” was officially coined in 1971 by President Nixon. It is a controversial movement that has both helped and hindered the nation. Shockingly, 45.3% of federal prison inmates are drug offenders. This infographic from TheWeedBlog.com plots the federal legality of 12 different illegal substances (cocaine, opium, heroin, morphine, cannabis, alcohol, LSD, peyote/mescaline, psilocybin, MDMA, Fentanyl, and methamphetamines) since 1870.
infographic by: theweedblog.com
