Harry Anslinger, the most influential drug policy figure in U.S. history, shaped perceptions of drug use during his 30-year leadership of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. His campaigns, particularly against cannabis, laid the groundwork for the ongoing War on Drugs, which has disproportionately affected marginalized communities. Anslinger’s stigmatizing narratives and racially charged rhetoric contributed to systemic policies that led to mass incarceration, particularly among African American men, highlighting the lasting impact of his tenure on American drug policy.