Cannabis: The Illegalization of Weed in America

In Cannabis: The Illegalization of Weed in America, cartoonist Box Brown traces the century-long campaign to outlaw marijuana in the United States, from early 20th-century propaganda to the war on drugs. Published by First Second in 2019, this single-issue graphic novel synthesizes political, racial, and economic threads into a clear-eyed nonfiction account. Brown’s signature clean, accessible art and documentary approach make this an essential primer on a deeply contentious American policy.