The Dope: The Real History of the Mexican Drug Trade

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This myth-busting history of the Mexican drug trade reveals how an industry founded by farmers and healers became dominated by cartels. The narrative challenges prejudiced views of a simplistic war between north and south, noble cops and vicious kingpins. Historian Benjamin T. Smith provides a comprehensive account of how this once-peaceful trade turned violent, exploring its origins and impact on modern Mexico, from agriculture to medicine and its relationship with the United States. Utilizing unprecedented archival research, leaked documents, and harrowing interviews, Smith presents a thrilling story filled with vivid characters, including Ignacia "La Nacha" Jasso, the "queen pin" of Ciudad Juárez, and Dr. Leopoldo Salazar Viniegra, who advocated for marijuana decriminalization. He also highlights the stories of agricultural workers, revealing the economic benefits and human costs of the trade. The narrative offers surprising conclusions about drug use and enforcement failures, backed by new research. Smith delves into the dynamics driving current drug war violence, U.S.-backed policies exacerbating the situation, and corruption on both sides of the border. This dark morality tale examines the American appetite for intoxication and the necessities of survival, making it essential for understanding the violence of the drug war and the myths shaping perceptions of Mexico today.