Description
Reefer Madness: Propaganda Gone Wild “Madness” (1936), originally a church-funded anti-drug film titled “Tell Your Children,” depicts high schoolers lured into marijuana addiction. Outlandish consequences include hallucinations, violent crime, and suicide. Intended as a cautionary tale, the film’s extreme portrayals became unintentionally comical decades later. Now public domain, “Madness” is a cult classic among cannabis reform advocates and a hilarious example of propaganda gone wrong.

Plot
In “Reefer Madness,” marijuana peddlers Mae and Jack corrupt high schoolers with the drug, leading to a downward spiral of crime and insanity. Jimmy, under the influence, causes a fatal hit-and-run. Bill, framed for murder, witnesses his girlfriend’s death at the hands of a dealer. Consumed by guilt and paranoia, the perpetrators turn on each other, resulting in more violence and self-destruction. The film’s cautionary tale ends with a stern warning from a school principal, urging parents to shield their children from the dangers of marijuana.

Credits
Director: Louis J. Gasnier
Writers: Lawrence Meade, Arthur Hoerl, Paul Franklin
Stars: Dorothy Short, Kenneth Craig, Lillian Miles