Reefer Madness (1936) Full movie | Exploitation film

Reefer Madness (originally made as Tell Your Children and sometimes titled The Burning Question, Dope Addict, Doped Youth, and Love Madness) is an American exploitation film about drug abuse. Filmed in 1936 but not released until 1938, it shows melodramatic events ensuing when high school students are lured by pushers to try marijuana – upon trying it, they become addicted, eventually leading them to become involved in criminal activities such as a hit and run accident, manslaughter, murder, conspiracy to murder and attempted rape. While all this is happening, they suffer hallucinations, descend into insanity, associate with organized crime and (in one character's case) commit suicide. The film was directed by silent-era pioneer Louis J. Gasnier and featured a cast of mainly little-known actors.

Originally financed by a church group under the title Tell Your Children (1936), the film was produced by mainstream independent filmmaker George Hirliman and intended to be shown to parents as a morality tale attempting to teach them about the dangers of cannabis use. After the film was shot, it was purchased in 1938 by exploitation film producer Dwain Esper, who recut it for distribution to exploitation houses, catering to vulgar interest while escaping censorship under the guise of moral guidance. Esper retitled the film Reefer Madness.

The film was "rediscovered" in the early 1970s, and Reefer Madness became an underground hit on college campuses. It gained new life as an unintentional satire among advocates of cannabis policy reform. Critics have called it one of the worst films ever made, and it has gained a cult following within cannabis culture. It is in the public domain in the United States, due to the film carrying an improper copyright notice.