Top Ten Drugs That Used To Be Legal

Drug laws have transformed dramatically over the past century. Substances now classified as illegal were once sold in pharmacies, advertised in newspapers, and prescribed by doctors for common ailments.

This history reveals an important truth: addiction is a health condition, not a moral failure. Understanding how these substances moved from medicine cabinets to the black market helps contextualize modern treatment approaches.

Why Were Dangerous Drugs Once Legal?

Before the early 1900s, the United States had minimal drug regulations. Pharmaceutical companies marketed products without disclosure requirements or safety testing.

The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was the first federal law requiring accurate labeling. It didn’t ban substances -it simply mandated that manufacturers list ingredients like cocaine and heroin on product labels.

Public health crises and addiction epidemics eventually forced stricter controls. The pattern was consistent: widespread medical use, recognition of addiction risks, and eventual prohibition through legislation.

Opium: From Patent Medicine to Prohibition

Opium was one of the most widely available drugs in 19th-century America. Pharmacies sold dried opium juice extracted from poppy plants without restriction.

Doctors prescribed it for pain relief, coughs, and diarrhea. Laudanum, a solution of opium dissolved in alcohol, was particularly popular. Parents gave it to teething infants, and women used it for menstrual cramps.

How Opium Became Illegal

Chinese immigrant workers introduced opium smoking to the United States during the mid-1800s. Anti-immigrant sentiment combined with addiction concerns led San Francisco to pass the first local opium ban in the 1870s. The Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914 imposed federal controls. By 1942, opium was fully prohibited under narcotics legislation.

Cannabis: From Required Crop to Controlled Substance

Cannabis was not only legal before the 20th century, some states required farmers to grow it. Virginia’s 1916 agricultural law mandated hemp cultivation for textiles, rope, and paper production.

The cannabis plant contains THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the compound responsible for psychoactive effects. Cannabis tinctures were sold as medicine for various conditions throughout the 1800s.

The Path to Criminalization

The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 restricted cannabis to medical use only, imposing heavy taxes on sales. By the 1950s, federal law introduced mandatory minimum sentences for simple possession.

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 placed cannabis in Schedule I, the most restrictive category, where it remains federally classified today despite state-level legalization efforts.

Methamphetamine: FDA-Approved to Schedule II

Japanese chemist Nagai Nagayoshi first synthesized methamphetamine in 1893. The pharmaceutical industry later marketed it under various brand names as FDA-approved medication.

Doctors prescribed methamphetamine for:

• Mild depression
• Narcolepsy (sleep disorder)
• Seasonal allergies
• Alcohol dependence

When Methamphetamine Became Controlled

Widespread abuse during the 1960s prompted federal action. The 1970 Controlled Substances Act placed methamphetamine in Schedule II, recognizing high abuse potential alongside limited medical uses.

Prescription methamphetamine (Desoxyn) remains legally available for specific conditions like ADHD and severe obesity, though it’s rarely prescribed.

Peyote: Sacred Medicine With Legal Exemptions

Peyote is a small cactus containing mescaline, a hallucinogenic compound. Indigenous communities in North America have used peyote in religious ceremonies for thousands of years.

The cactus was legally harvested and shipped across state lines through the 1950s. Mail-order suppliers advertised peyote buttons to interested buyers without restriction.

Religious Freedom vs. Drug Policy

Between 1920 and 1930, several states banned peyote use. The federal government added mescaline to Schedule I in 1970. However, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act Amendments of 1994 exempted members of the Native American Church from prosecution. This remains the only federal religious exemption for a Schedule I substance.

Cocaine: From Coca-Cola Ingredient to Schedule II

Cocaine has been extracted from coca leaves for over 3,000 years. Modern pharmaceutical use began in the 1860s when chemists isolated pure cocaine alkaloid.

Doctors prescribed it to treat morphine addiction and depression – a tragically ironic application given cocaine’s own addictive properties. The original Coca-Cola formula contained small amounts of cocaine until 1903.

Cocaine’s Regulatory Timeline

Prominent figures including Sigmund Freud advocated for cocaine’s medical benefits before recognizing its dangers. The Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914 imposed the first federal restrictions.

Cocaine was placed in Schedule II in 1970, indicating high abuse potential but recognized medical use. It remains legal for specific surgical procedures, particularly nasal and laryngeal surgery.

LSD: From CIA Research to Schedule I

Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in 1938 while researching circulatory stimulants at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals. He accidentally discovered its psychedelic effects in 1943.

The CIA’s Project MKUltra tested LSD as a potential interrogation tool during the 1950s and 1960s. Psychiatric researchers explored therapeutic applications for conditions including alcoholism and end-of-life anxiety.

Why LSD Was Banned

Unregulated home production and recreational use grew rapidly during the 1960s counterculture movement. California banned LSD in 1966 after concerns about adverse psychological reactions. Congress placed LSD in Schedule I in 1970, declaring it had no accepted medical use. Recent FDA-approved trials have resumed exploring LSD and similar compounds for treatment-resistant depression.

GHB: Bodybuilding Supplement to Date-Rape Drug

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) occurs naturally in the human central nervous system at low concentrations. French researcher Henri Laborit first synthesized it in 1960 while developing anesthetics. Doctors used pharmaceutical GHB during childbirth in some countries. During the 1980s, bodybuilders discovered it promoted sleep quality and growth hormone release, leading to widespread gym use.

GHB’s Emergency Classification

Reports of overdose deaths and use in sexual assaults prompted FDA intervention. Congress passed the Hillory J. Farias and Samantha Reid Date-Rape Prevention Act of 2000, placing GHB in Schedule I.

Pharmaceutical GHB (Xyrem/Xywav) remains available in Schedule III for narcolepsy treatment under strict distribution controls.

Psilocybin Mushrooms: From Life Magazine to Federal Ban

Magic mushrooms contain psilocybin, a compound that produces visual distortions and altered consciousness similar to LSD effects. Indigenous Mesoamerican cultures have used psilocybin mushrooms in spiritual practices for millennia.

Western interest surged after mycologist R. Gordon Wasson published his experiences in a 1957 Life magazine article. Harvard researchers including Timothy Leary conducted controversial psilocybin studies during the early 1960s.

The Criminalization of Psilocybin

Congress added psilocybin and psilocin to Schedule I in 1970 alongside LSD. Possession of mushrooms containing these compounds became illegal under federal law.

Recent FDA breakthrough therapy designations have accelerated research into psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD.

MDMA: Therapy Tool to Party Drug

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), commonly called ecstasy or molly, was first synthesized in 1912 by chemist Anton Köllisch at Merck Pharmaceuticals. The company patented it but never marketed it commercially.

Chemist Alexander Shulgin resynthesized MDMA in 1976 and introduced it to psychotherapists. Clinicians reported it helped patients discuss traumatic experiences with reduced emotional defensiveness.

MDMA’s Transition to Schedule I

Recreational use exploded in nightclub settings during the early 1980s. The DEA issued an emergency ban in 1985, placing MDMA in Schedule I despite protests from therapists.

Clinical trials examining MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD have shown promising results, with FDA approval decisions pending as of 2024.

Heroin: Marketed as Non-Addictive Cough Medicine

Bayer Pharmaceutical chemist Felix Hoffmann synthesized diacetylmorphine (heroin) in 1874. Bayer marketed it starting in 1898 as a “non-addictive” substitute for morphine and codeine cough suppressants. Pharmacies sold heroin tablets and liquid formulations without prescription throughout the early 1900s. Bayer promoted it aggressively to doctors as superior to existing pain medications.

Why Heroin Was Banned

Reality contradicted marketing claims. Heroin proved significantly more addictive than morphine, with severe withdrawal symptoms including muscle pain, anxiety, and gastrointestinal distress. The Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914 imposed initial restrictions. Congress fully prohibited heroin production and importation in 1924 after recognizing the scope of addiction problems.

What Changed: The Evolution of U.S. Drug Policy

Multiple factors drove the transition from legal availability to prohibition:

Public health crises emerged. As addiction became widespread, the social costs became impossible to ignore. Emergency room visits and overdose deaths forced medical and political responses.

Medical understanding improved. Early pharmaceutical companies made claims without scientific evidence. As research revealed addiction mechanisms and long-term health consequences, the medical community reversed its position on many substances.

Regulatory infrastructure developed. The FDA gained authority gradually. The Pure Food and Drug Act (1906), the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act (1914), and the Controlled Substances Act (1970) created the modern drug scheduling system.

Social movements influenced policy. Both progressive reformers seeking public health improvements and punitive approaches targeting specific communities shaped legislation. Research shows that racial bias influenced enforcement patterns from the beginning.

How These Substances Affect the Brain

Despite their chemical differences, these drugs share common mechanisms:

Dopamine pathway activation. Most addictive substances trigger dopamine release in the brain’s reward system. This creates reinforcing associations that drive repeated use.

Tolerance development. Regular use requires increasingly higher doses to achieve the same effects. This escalation pattern increases overdose risk and makes cessation more difficult.

Withdrawal symptoms. Physical dependence develops as the brain adapts to the substance’s presence. Stopping use suddenly can cause symptoms ranging from uncomfortable to life-threatening depending on the drug.

Neuroplasticity changes. Chronic use alters brain structure and function. Some changes persist long after substance use stops, contributing to relapse vulnerability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Were all these drugs really sold in regular stores?

Yes. Before the 1914 Harrison Narcotics Tax Act, Americans could purchase cocaine, heroin, and opium products from pharmacies without prescriptions. Cannabis tinctures and coca-based tonics lined shelves alongside other patent medicines. Product labels often didn’t disclose these ingredients until the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act required it.

Why did doctors prescribe such dangerous drugs?

Medical understanding of addiction was primitive before the 20th century. Doctors didn’t recognize physical dependence as a biological process. Pharmaceutical companies marketed these substances with false safety claims, and the medical community lacked regulatory oversight or standardized research methods to evaluate them properly.

Are any of these drugs still used medically today?

Several remain in limited medical use. Cocaine serves as a topical anesthetic for nasal surgery. Methamphetamine (Desoxyn) treats severe ADHD and obesity. GHB (Xyrem) treats narcolepsy. Medical marijuana is legal in most states. These medications face strict prescription controls and monitoring requirements.

Could any of these drugs become legal again?

Policy is evolving. Multiple states have decriminalized or legalized cannabis. Oregon decriminalized personal possession of all drugs in 2020 (though this was partially reversed in 2024). Psilocybin is legal for therapeutic use in Oregon and Colorado. MDMA and psilocybin are in late-stage FDA trials for mental health treatment.

How can historical drug policy inform current treatment approaches?

This history reveals that criminalization alone doesn’t address addiction effectively. Countries that treat addiction as a health issue—providing treatment instead of incarceration—show better outcomes according to World Health Organization research. Recognizing that today’s illegal drugs were yesterday’s medicines helps reduce stigma and encourages evidence-based policy.

What happens during withdrawal from these substances?

Withdrawal severity varies by substance. Opiate withdrawal causes muscle aches, anxiety, and gastrointestinal distress but is rarely life-threatening. Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause seizures requiring medical supervision. Stimulant withdrawal produces severe depression and fatigue. Medical detoxification with professional support significantly improves safety and success rates.

Where to Find Help for Substance Use

If you or someone you know is struggling with substances mentioned in this article, professional treatment is available.

Discover Recovery connects individuals with evidence-based treatment options tailored to specific needs. Trained specialists can assess your situation and recommend appropriate care levels, from outpatient counseling to residential programs.

The SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) provides free, confidential support 24/7. Services include treatment referrals, information about local resources, and guidance for family members.

Recovery is possible. The same substances that were once considered safe medicines are now understood as requiring professional treatment approaches when addiction develops.