[Ads-l] Antedating of "Loco Weed"

[Bill Mullins]

Is this a reference to marijuana, or some other weed, one that possibly affects cattle that eat it?
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From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Shapiro, Fred <00001ac016895344-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, November 1, 2026 4:30 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Subject: Antedating of "Loco Weed"

Loco Weed (OED 1879)

1873 Sacramento Daily Union 28 May 2/6 (Genealogy Bank)

The army worm ... have thus far confined their ravages principally to a poisonous plant known as "loco weed."

NOTE:  This was reprinted from the Kern County Courier, 24 May 1873.

Fred Shapiro

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