Reefer Madness

This exploitative film from 1938 warns parents of the dangers of cannabis use through a tale of addiction, hallucinations, and descent into madness, drawing on real-life tragedies involving marijuana users. An unmarried couple selling marijuana inadvertently entice high school students to frequent their apartment, leading to chaotic consequences that include hit-and-run accidents, manslaughter, murder, conspiracy to murder, and attempted rape. The film's propagandistic message was originally intended for a church group audience but was later reworked by exploitation producer Dwain Esper into the lurid, salacious thriller known as "Reefer Madness."