With corrections pouring in for my digital newspaper post the other day (okay, not "pouring in" but I have had a few additions and changes) I've decided it will be best to make the digital newspaper listing a separate page. I will update that page (you can see pages under the main blog headline) when… Continue reading A more permanent home for newspaper listings
Author: danmalleck
Medical historian and jack-of-all-trades curmudgeon. I tend to ramble about politics, social incivility, and a self-centred culture more interested in buying the next cool ringtone or device than actively engaging in the sorts of discussions and issues that matter. The more opportunity we have to buy more stuff, the less concern there is, it seems, in politics, social justice and let's face it, basic human decency, unless those things actually can save us money or get us more things to show how awesome we are through displaying our material wealth.
And I like to brew beer, make cheese, and put food in jars.
Oops
Okay, so the corrections on the newspaper post have begun already. Apparently the "New Brunswick"newspaper links I received (and reproduced) are for the city in New Jersey, not the province in Canada.I'll fix them soon.
Digital newspaper databases–first try
I have been attempting to compile a list of online searchable digital newspaper databases. It is more difficult than you may think. What follows is the first draft, I suppose, of the results. Most of this is English language material (except the general clearing house databases, many of which contain links to other language papers).… Continue reading Digital newspaper databases–first try
Booze is a drug, for my intents and purposes.
I'm not going to get into this topic of alcohol versus drugs as far as classification. At least not yet. I just wanted to do a little self promotion. My book, Try to Control Yourself: The Regulation of Drinking in Post-Prohibition Ontario, 1927-1944 has just been released. The best place to order it is directly… Continue reading Booze is a drug, for my intents and purposes.
Funding disclosure
In the next few years this blog will get more substantial. I just received funding from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to continue my research work in the history of drug policy pre-1911. This will include creating and making digitally available substantial reference material relating to the history of pharmaceuticals and drugs… Continue reading Funding disclosure
Why do pharmacists control access to certain drugs?
I had a student who is diabetic come to speak to me today, and in the meandering way conversations I get into with students go (usually my fault), she ended up asking the rhetorical question "why do I have to get my insulin from a pharmacist?" It is a good question. As I noted in… Continue reading Why do pharmacists control access to certain drugs?
Where did the dangers of drugs come from?
In the next little while I'll be musing on the origins of the idea that drugs, and especially drug addiction, is a problem. there has been a lot of work on this, so I am going over very charted territory. My concern is that the work on the idea of the "discovery of addiction" as… Continue reading Where did the dangers of drugs come from?
Why the harsh new criminalization is dumb
I was recently asked why the federal Conservatives are so hell bent on pushing criminal legislation that includes 1980s era penalties for selling drugs. More specifically, the new legislation will make mandatory minimum sentences for possession of moderate amounts of drugs like marijuana. I guess having six plants makes you a trafficker, and there is… Continue reading Why the harsh new criminalization is dumb
the first one’s free
Welcome to Drug History Canada. I have created this blog as a forum (or maybe a monologue) about the history of drugs in Canada. In contrast to my other blogs, which relate little to my academic work, this blog will be focused upon my current, upcoming and at times previous research in the history of… Continue reading the first one’s free
Drug History Canada 