Marshall Poe
Marshall Poe
George Fisher, "Beware Euphoria: The Moral Roots and Racial Myths of America's War on Drugs" (Oxford UP, 2024)
George Fisher, "Beware Euphoria: The Moral Roots and Racial Myths of America's War on Drugs" (Oxford UP, 2024)
George Fisher, "Beware Euphoria: The Moral Roots and Racial Myths of America's War on Drugs" (Oxford UP, 2024)
Saturday 3rd February 2024
George Fisher explores the moral roots and racial myths of America's drug war with host Emily Duffton. A thought-provoking discussion on drug legislation.
63 minutes
Informative
Thought-provoking
Engaging
Educational
Eye-opening
About this podcast
Author:
Marshall Poe
Overview:
Categories:
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Family Recovery from Addiction
Relationships & Community
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
232 (View all)
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!Unpacking the Moral and Racial Myths of America's Drug War
Episode Overview
- Early anti-drug laws were driven by moral impulses rather than racial motives.
- Historical moral teachings condemned pleasures that disable reason.
- Racial myths in drug legislation are often overstated.
- Alcohol's paradoxical acceptance in American culture is explored.
- Contemporary racial injustice has influenced shifts towards legalisation.
What gave rise to early anti-drug laws was an ancient moral impulse, essentially an aversion to pleasures that disable our reasons.
George Fisher, the Judge John Crown Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, dives into the moral and racial underpinnings of America's drug war in his latest book, *Beware Euphoria: The Moral Roots and Racial Myths of America's Drug War*. In this episode, host Emily Duffton sits down with Fisher to discuss the provocative themes and historical insights of his work.
Fisher, a former prosecutor and a seasoned academic, brings a unique perspective to the table, challenging long-held beliefs about the origins and motivations behind drug legislation in the United States. Fisher argues that early anti-drug laws were driven by an ancient moral impulse rather than purely racial motives. He explains how historical moral teachings condemned pleasures that disable reason, drawing parallels between these teachings and early anti-drug laws.
Fisher also addresses the commonly held belief that racial myths played a significant role in drug legislation, providing evidence to suggest otherwise. He delves into the role of alcohol in American culture and its paradoxical acceptance compared to other drugs. The conversation takes a deep dive into the history of anti-drug laws, highlighting how early laws were often racially neutral but later became disproportionately enforced against people of colour.
Fisher's meticulous research, involving student assistants and old newspaper archives, uncovers surprising truths about the motivations behind these laws. He also discusses the impact of contemporary racial injustice on drug policy and the shift towards legalisation. If you're interested in understanding the complex history of America's drug war and challenging your preconceptions, this episode is a must-listen.
Fisher's engaging storytelling and rigorous research make for a compelling discussion that will leave you questioning what you thought you knew about drug legislation. Why not tune in and see if your views on America's drug war are challenged?