Reefer

Reefer is a vintage slang term for cannabis popularized in early 1900s jazz culture. It rose to infamy following the 1936 propaganda film Reefer Madness, which falsely depicted cannabis triggering insanity and violence. Now the term reefer is often reclaimed satirically by advocates to acknowledge the absurdity of historic anti-marijuana stigma. While reefer became synonymous with the dangers of marijuana, modern science has debunked these claims. Today reefer simply serves as amusing historical slang referencing the long, misinformed war on this healing plant. After the fear mongering stereotypes spread by Reefer Madness were proven unfounded and exaggerated, people could look back and chuckle at the hysteria. The name reefer itself may have Mexican origins from the word “grifo.” But Americans demonized cannabis by adopting the foreign sounding word. Hearing reefer automatically triggered fear and prejudice. Legalization efforts continue unwinding and exposing the dramatic myths that made reefer notorious.