I recently read (on some strange web site) that the US Constitutional amendment (18th) was not inspired by the Women's Christian Temperance Union but by the petroleum industry. The article stated that all too many farmers were brewing alcohol (primarily from corn) that was used as fuel for their tractors. In other words, drinking moonshine was one use but the more significant use was an alternative to gasoline.

There are many indications are that making private use of marijuana illegal in the US was not really the drug issue but the fact that hemp fiber was a threat to Dupont's new material, nylon. Additionally, with alcohol back on the approved list, marijuana was potential competition.

Crazy? Probably not but I have no additional pointers.