What was controversial about the book?

Tim Ferriss discussed the controversy surrounding the book From Chocolate to Morphine with its co-author, Dr. Andrew Weil. The book, which came out in 1983, offered information and precautions about various mind-altering drugs without explicitly advising against their use. Instead, it provided a detailed guide on different substances, both legal and illegal. This approach, especially during the climate of the newly intensified "War on Drugs" led by the Reagan administration, was highly controversial.

A Republican senator from Florida, Paula Hawkins, who had close ties to Nancy Reagan, led a campaign to ban the book from libraries and prevent Dr. Weil from speaking publicly. Despite this backlash, the book remained in print and continued to be popular among readers, often being recommended by parents to their children and vice versa 1.

This controversy highlighted the clash between the book's harm-reduction approach and the zero-tolerance policies prevalent at the time.