Cocaine, by Aleister Crowley - 1973 Level Press

Cocaine, by Aleister Crowley. 1973 Level Press stapled softcover. 32 pages, very nice condition, some rust on staples.

This is the first separate publication of Crowley’s essay, originally published in the October 1917 issue of The International. Introduction by David Hoye, with cover art, and illustrations by April Funcke. It was written in the US shortyly after the passing of the Harrison Act, a piece of legislation banning the non-prescription sales of cocaine and other drugs. Crowley presents, in this essay, his arguments against the general banning of drugs: the traffic is driven underground and the cost of the drug is increased manyfold. This causes the addict (who will be an addict regardless of legislation) to turn to a life of crime in order to support his hunger for the drug.