United States Marines use flamethrowers to burn cannabis field in Illinois. 1957
Operation Burn out
In the 50’s, the United States was left with a stockpile of weapons of war left over from WW2. With the war won, the weapons intended for war abroad were aimed at a new target domestically.
The War on Drugs…
Operation Burn-Out
“A squad of Marines was called in yesterday to complete the destruction of marijuana found growing on two plots of ground last Saturday. Although a strong weed killer had been sprayed on the plants, police believed it safer to have them burned out. The chemicals had made the “loco weed” poisonous and police feared that despite a guard someone might get some of it. Valued at 250,000 in the dope trade, the marijuana had been planted by unknown persons on plots of ground near Wisdom and South Fourth Streets, both on the Southside.”
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Jul 19, 1957
Propaganda video of the same incident from 1957…
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/vi…e/1B012349_021