Reefer Madness (Schlosser book)

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Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market
Reedermadnessdw.jpg
First edition
Author Eric Schlosser
LanguageEnglish
Publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date
2003
Media typeprint
Pages320
ISBN 0-618-33466-1

Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market is a book written by Eric Schlosser and published in 2003. The book is a look at the three pillars of the underground economy of the United States, estimated by Schlosser to be ten percent of U.S. GDP: marijuana, migrant labor, and pornography.

Contents

The book is divided into three chapters:

Chapter 1: Reefer Madness, Schlosser argues, based on usage, historical context, and consequences, for the decriminalization of marijuana. [1]

Chapter 2: In the Strawberry Fields, he explores the exploitation of illegal aliens[ clarification needed ] as cheap labor, arguing that there should be better living arrangements and humane treatment of the illegal aliens the U.S. is exploiting in the fields of California. [2]

Chapter 3: An Empire of the Obscene details the history of pornography in U.S. culture, starting with the eventual business magnate Reuben Sturman. [2] Schlosser closes by arguing that such a widespread black market can only undermine the law and is indicative of the discrepancy between accepted mainstream U.S. culture and its true nature.[ clarification needed ]

See also

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References

  1. Antthony, Andrew (May 18, 2003). "Observer review: Reefer Madness by Eric Schlosser". the Guardian.
  2. 1 2 Sifton, Sam (May 11, 2003). "Notes From Underground". The New York Times.