1967 TV Show Beat ‘The Simpsons’ On One Prediction: Marijuana Is Going To Be ‘Packaged And Taxed And Sold Right Off The Shelf’
In a 1967 episode of “Dragnet” titled “The Big High,” a character boldly predicted, “Marijuana is going to be like liquor, packaged and taxed and sold right off the shelf.” This striking forecast not only underscored the episode’s forward-thinking narrative but also highlighted how the series ventured into the future of cannabis regulation, a subject that was highly contentious at the time. The dialogue between Officer Bill Gannon and Paul Shipley, a character defending his and his wife’s marijuana use, remarkably prefigured debates that would take center stage in the decades to come.
“Dragnet,” known for its gritty realism and focus on factual police procedures, often tackled social issues of the day, making its exploration of marijuana use and legalization particularly notable. The series, created by Jack Webb, who also starred as Sergeant Joe Friday, was a pioneer in blending entertainment with real-life law enforcement challenges. “The Big High” episode’s engagement with the topic of marijuana use …