When did drugs become illegal?

[Kesh]

I was watching a History Channel thing on this last week. Apparently, drugs were pretty much unregulated for a long time, as it was seen as too much government interference. Things changed due to racism. Racial violence in the south was blamed on "cocaine induced rage among negroes" and there was a push to outlaw the drug because of that in the late 1800s. Things pretty much rolled on from that point.

 

[Devilkiller]

For other ideas on why drugs might be illegal in your campaign world you could read up on the Opium War. While trading with China, the British found that addictive products like opium sell great and create their own demand. The Chinese government was understandably not amused.

 

[Dogbrain]

technique: make a fist. insert lit cigarette near thumb and inhale near pinkie. no tobacco touches lips in this fashion.

Or use a shishak/hookah.

 

[Dogbrain]

Overall, I think that the Victorian USA was the time and place for Vice to be Frowned Upon The Most, real or not. So I'd date most prohibitions as originating, if not in that actual era, then in spirit in that era (law sometimes takes time to flow from the Moral to the Legislators).

Oddly enough, though, that was also an era in which the most respectable of people thought nothing of taking "tonics" that consisted of opiates--and giving these same things to children. Indeed, opiate concoctions were a heavily-used cough medication--often advertised as ideal to give to children. And this was respectable, not like that demon weed.

 

[reanjr]

Not only that, but they used to have coffeehouses wherein intellectuals were permitted to smoke hand-rolled Turkish tobacco cigarettes!

Hey, I can still do that where I live. w00t!!

 

[reanjr]

Turkish tobacco was used in Camel cigarettes for many years.

Still is. And I commend the Turks on their rich, brawny leaf.

 

[diaglo]

Coca Cola had real cocaine in it. thus the name.

 

[Umbran]

Indeed, opiate concoctions were a heavily-used cough medication--often advertised as ideal to give to children. And this was respectable, not like that demon weed.

Were and still are. Codeine is an alkaloid obtained from opium, and is still widely used as an analgesic and cough suppressant. You need a prescription form a doctor these days, but if you get a bad enough case of bronchitis, you probably wind up taking the stuff.

 

[Dogbrain]

Were and still are.

I would hardly call codeine "heavily used". These days it's dextromethorphan and/or giuiafusenin.

 

[Umbran]

I would hardly call codeine "heavily used".

I broke a collar bone - Tylenol with codeine.
Two separate friends, in different parts of the country, four separate cases of bronchitis, four different doctors - codeine prescribed as a cough suppressant.

Yes, if you're only going over the counter, you don't see codeine. But for prescription, it's reasonably common. Your definition of "heavily" may vary, of course.