The Dope: The Real History of the Mexican Drug Trade

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A quick rundown of this product’s key features:

A myth-busting, 100-year history of the Mexican drug trade that reveals how an industry founded by farmers and village healers became dominated by cartels and kingpins.

The Mexican drug trade has inspired prejudiced narratives of a war between north and south, white and brown; between noble cops and vicious kingpins, corrupt politicians and powerful cartels. In this first comprehensive history of the trade, historian Benjamin T. Smith tells the real story of how and why this one-peaceful industry turned violent. He uncovers its origins and explains how this illicit business essentially built modern Mexico, affecting everything from agriculture to medicine to economics―and the country’s all-important relationship with the United States.

Drawing on unprecedented archival research; leaked DEA, Mexican law enforcement, and cartel documents; and dozens of harrowing interviews, Smith tells a thrilling story brimming with vivid characters―from Ignacia “La Nacha” Jasso, “queen pin” of Ciudad Juárez, to Dr. Leopoldo Salazar Viniegra, the crusading physician who argued that marijuana was harmless and tried to decriminalize morphine, to Harry Anslinger, the Machiavellian founder of the American Federal Bureau of Narcotics, who drummed up racist drug panics to increase his budget. Smith also profiles everyday agricultural workers, whose stories reveal both the economic benefits and the human cost of the trade.

The Dope contains many surprising conclusions about drug use and the failure of drug enforcement, all backed by new research and data. Smith explains the complicated dynamics that drive the current drug war violence, probes the U.S.-backed policies that have inflamed the carnage, and explores corruption on both sides of the border. A dark morality tale about the American hunger for intoxication and the necessities of human survival, The Dope is essential for understanding the violence in the drug war and how decades-old myths shape Mexico in the American imagination today.

50 illustrations

Our Top Reviews

Reviewer: Sugar Glider
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Narco Protection Rackets
Review: This books reveals how most of the narco violence is about gangs fighting over Protection Rackets. Gangs that control territory tax (extort) drug traffickers. If they don’t pay, they’re killed. Until recently, the Mexican government extorted narcos, but gangs have taken control of extortion. These gangs are also extorting legal businesse. Protection Rackets are very lucrative criminal enterprises.

Reviewer: Daniel K. Min
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Incredible history that Benjamin T. Smith simplified and consolidated into a pleasant read.
Review: Fascinating history that the very few have learned in regards to economics and the history of Mexico but less so in the convoluted mess that shaped the policy of both the country and the United States.

Reviewer: Bill Harford
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Accurate history of Mexican drug trade
Review: If you want to understand why the War on Drugs has not worked, read this book. It details the drug trade in Mexico starting from the very early 1900’s. It reads like a good novel, but you couldn’t make this stuff up. I grew up in Mexico in the 1960’s and have watched the drug trade and futile, counterproductive American efforts to combat it, destroy the country I loved.

Reviewer: malean
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Triste historia del narcotrafico y la lucha para controlarlo
Review: Con referirme a triste quiero decir que lamentablemente lo del narcotrafico es un cuento de nunca acabar, mientras exista demanda de drogas, habrá producción de ellas! El libro narra la constante lucha entre los productores, consumidores y las autoridades en Mexico y Estados Unidos. Bastante información, hay que leerlo con calma, pero me pareció muy informado.

Reviewer: TJ Andreski
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: mostly old history; woke spin
Review: Book came fine, decent quality printing. Delivery good. However, most of the book is ‘ancient’ history with only the last chapter and epilogue about the drug war in Mexico within last 20 years. The details are enlightening but not indepth. Also, the whole drug war is the fault of Mexican and US authorities and not greed over drug profits and other rackets in Mexico. The strong drug supply is mentioned in US but no suggestions about how this can be countered nor any detail on this demand. I really wanted the majority of the book to be about the last 20 years and not 90% about history prior to 2000 and mostly before that time.

Reviewer: Anonymous Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great book but bad packaging
Review: After reading the ebook version that I checked out from the library I decided to purchase the book to support the author.I bought a NEW paperback version and it came with the back bent. Aside from that it was a good book and I learned a lot. My favorite chapter would have to be chapter 6 titled The Revolutionary where it looked like Mexico was going to WIN the war on drugs. Fascinating book for those interested in the Mexican War on drugs.

Reviewer: rossofinertia
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: interesting look at the roots of Mexican drug running
Review: I can’t say that this was the most rigorously researched book I’ve ever read but I enjoyed it and found it full of “I didn’t know that” nuggets.Or rather the second half seemed to rely far more on hearsay than empirically researched information.The linear flow of the second half seemed haphazard.But the first half— how Mexico avoided a major drug usage population while over time developing agricultural, chemistry, logistics and organization to be the leading supplier of drugs to the Us— that qas fascinating…

Reviewer: RTM
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Revealing and Important History of the US Mexican Drug Trade
Review: Historian Ben Smith tells a fascinating and important story about the growth and development of the illegal drug trade between the USA and Mexico. Smith’s in depth research reveals that there is much more complexity to this topic than most Americans probably realize. Although Mexico is often demonized as the “villain”, the economic and political forces driving the enormous drug business are just as significant in the US as in Mexico. Smith shows how protection rackets on both sides of the border have allowed the drug trade to flourish, fueled by the insatiable US demand. More importantly, this history demonstrated how the costly “War on Drugs” often was counterproductive, and actually contributed to increased violence in both countries. I found this book to very written, extremely detailed, eye opening, and overall worth reading for anyone interested in this subject.

Reviewer: Leticia Fuentes Vera
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Relato interesante sobre el origen del tráfico ilícito de drogas en México. LLegó antes de lo esperado y con un muy buen descuento. La edición fue pasta dura y está muy bien editado letras grandes. Un ensayo de divulgación e información de archivo y fuentes de primera mano.

Reviewer: Kevs
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Me resulto super interesante el libro da mucha información lo recomiendo.

Reviewer: Trudy
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This is non fiction but reads better than most thrillers. Well-written and researched a great read.

Reviewer: Rob
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This is a well thought out telling of the development of the trafficking culture within and beyond Mexico and the insatiable demand it feeds in the United States. While elements are undoubtedly repeated the world over, Smith’s narration is clear, structured and maintains interest throughout.

Reviewer: Meli
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Eines der wenigen Bücher welche die Realität im Drogenhandel wieder gibt.

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