Marihuana

Marihuana is a 1941 crime novella by Cornell Woolrich, published under the pen name William Irish. The narrative centers on King Turner, a dejected man whose life spirals into chaos after his first experience with marijuana. The story takes place over a single night in an urban setting, following King's descent into paranoia and violence after smoking marijuana at an illegal establishment. His altered state triggers a series of encounters with law enforcement, civilians, and his ex-wife Eleanor. Turner moves through the city's dark corners, from seedy marijuana dens to phone booths to hotel rooms, as his paranoid delusions intensify. The police pursue him as his actions become increasingly erratic and dangerous. The novella explores themes of addiction, mental deterioration, and the destructive power of paranoia. Through its stark portrayal of a man's rapid unraveling, the work reflects the period's anxieties about drug use and social order.

This book appears to have very limited reader reviews available online. No reviews could be found on Goodreads, Amazon, or other major book review sites. As an obscure 1941 Cornell Woolrich crime novel about marijuana trafficking, it was published only once and never reprinted. The few mentions in Woolrich fan discussions note it as one of his rarer works but provide minimal commentary on its content or quality. The book is primarily known by Woolrich collectors and scholars rather than general readers. Based on the lack of accessible reviews and ratings, this title likely had limited circulation and readership compared to Woolrich's better-known noir novels like "The Bride Wore Black" and "Phantom Lady." No reliable ratings information or direct reader quotes could be found to include in this summary.

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🗯️ Woolrich wrote under multiple pen names including William Irish and George Hopley, contributing to over 200 stories and novels throughout his career. 🌆 The book was published in 1941, during the height of the "Reefer Madness" era when anti-marijuana propaganda was widespread in American media and society. 📚 "Marihuana" was originally published as part of an anthology called "The Marijuana Murders" alongside other drug-themed crime stories. 🎬 Woolrich's work heavily influenced film noir, with more of his stories adapted to film and television than any other crime writer of his era. 🖋️ The novella's over-the-top depiction of marijuana effects aligned with the official stance of Harry Anslinger's Federal Bureau of Narcotics, which actively promoted such narratives in the 1940s.