Important and interesting drug dates

Columbus Discovers America

Oct 12, 1492

Christopher Columbus "discovers America," landing in the Bahamas. On his very first day in the New World, Columbus meets with friendly Indians who offer him a valuable gift—tobacco. Not knowing what to make of the strange dried leaves, Columbus later throws the tobacco overboard.

Catholic Church Against Coca

Mar 1, 1552

The Catholic Church's First Council of Lima denounces the use of the coca leaf, commonly chewed by the Indians of the Andes for its stimulant properties.

Tobacco Widespread

Mar 1, 1600

At the end of the sixteenth century, tobacco smoking—a tradition adopted from American Indians—has become widespread in England.

Massachusetts Bans Public Smoking

Mar 1, 1632

Massachusetts bans smoking in public.

Morphine Discovered

Mar 1, 1804

A German chemist named F.W.A. Sertürner isolates morphine from opium.

Morphine in Civil War

Mar 1, 1861

Morphine, a derivative of opium, is widely used to relieve the suffering of wounded soldiers during the Civil War. Union Army doctors issue nearly ten million opium pills to Northern soldiers. Morphine and opium addiction is so common among Civil War veterans throughout the late nineteenth century that addiction becomes known as "the army disease."

1880 Smoking

Mar 1, 1880

Americans smoke 500 million cigarettes a year, up from 42 million just five years earlier.

Bayer Sells Heroin

Mar 1, 1898

The German drug company Bayer begins selling heroin as an over-the-counter cough suppressant.

California Bans Pot

Mar 1, 1915

California becomes the first state to ban cannabis consumption for non-medicinal purposes.

Prohibition Era

Jan 16, 1920

Prohibition takes effect, making it illegal for Americans to drink alcohol. Contrary to the hopes and expectations of its boosters in the temperance movement, the law does not end alcohol consumption in the United States, as millions of citizens obtain liquor illegally through bootleggers or speakeasies.

8 Billion in Tobacco sales

Mar 1, 1968

The U.S. tobacco industry has gross sales of $8 billion. Americans smoke 544 billion cigarettes.

Cigarette Ads Banned From Television

Jan 2, 1971

Cigarette advertisements are banned from American television.

President Nixon declares that “America’s Public Enemy No. 1 is drug abuse.

Mar 1, 1971

In a message to Congress, the President calls for the creation of a Special Action Office of Drug Abuse Prevention.

Just Say No

Sep 1, 1986

President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan launch a "national crusade" against drug abuse behind the slogan, "Just Say No."

Tobacco Industry Lawsuit

Mar 1, 1988

The tobacco industry loses its first major lawsuit when a jury awards the family of lung-cancer victim Rose Cipollone a $400,000 verdict.