8. Cannabis - Reefer Madness (1936)
Unlike some of the topics in this article, films that dealt with the controversy of drugs came quite early in the history of cinema. Funded by church groups, Reefer Madness is a classic cautionary tale of what befalls marijuana users if they keep indulging in their disgusting habit. There is a descent into madness, attempted rape, suicide and a hit and run accident. Meant to be a staunch propaganda piece against cannabis, it ends up as rather too heavy handed and hysterically funny. It has a cult following but is really a piece of cinematic cack, although, like many films in this list, it is very culturally important. I can't really think of a modern film which decries the use of cannabis as a terrible thing in people's lives. Heroin and cocaine for sure, but cannabis use is usually seen as relaxing and enjoyable. It is certainly not demonised in cinema as you can see in films like Dazed and Confused and Jay and Silent Bob movies or anything Cheech and Chong ever starred in. Smoking cannabis is not without its risks, however it has gone from being portrayed as a terrible societal menace in Reefer Madness to being accepted as one of the milder and safer drugs to use. Reefer Madness is for all of you campy propaganda film lovers out there.