As marijuana gradually becomes legalized across the United States, one old urban legend we

hear more and more often is the idea that William Randolph Hearst was part of a conspiracy

that got marijuana-declared illegal to protect various corporate interests.

Today we're going to look at the origin and specific claims of the conspiracy theory,

and compare them to the true history of this popular drug.

Hemp, Hearst, and Prohibition is today on Skeptoid.

You're listening to Skeptoid.

I'm Brian Dunning from Skeptoid.com.

Hemp, Hearst, and Prohibition.

One of the most popular urban legends in American counterculture is that of the Hemp

conspiracy.

It's a complex tangle of facts and fiction surrounding the long history of how and

why marijuana became illegal in the United States.

It's a tale of economics, robber barons, racism, and backroom conspiracies.

What string of events could have led to this most versatile of materials, and among the safest

of psychoactives, being vilified by the law and nearly non-existent from industry?

Hemp, Cannabis, and marijuana are all the same thing, just as there are different types

of roses or tomatoes, there are different types of cannabis.

All varieties produce tough Hemp fiber that has myriad industrial uses, notably in paper,

fabric, rope, even construction bricks.

Some strains produce more or less hemp seed, which can be used in foods.

But most notably, some strains produce a lot of THC, tetrahydrocanabinol, a psychoactive

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