A register at the territorial prison in Yuma, Arizona, mentions prisoners being caught with marijuana. How prevalent was the use of “pot” in the West? David Ragsdale Chiloquin, Oregon Marijuana wasn’t common in the U.S. until the 1920s, and the Territorial Prison at Yuma was open from 1876-1909. So the old-time cowboys most likely weren’t one toke over the line. I would guess those Yuma prisoners were Mexican nationals; pot smoking was more common in their country. In the Old West, drugs


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