Drug prohibition, is a term rarely attached with a negative connotation for many Americans. Its failure has sparked some debate in the last fifty years, however, the ignorance about illegal substances has led to little discussion on alternatives. Legalizing all drugs is a better alternative than perpetuating the failed war on drugs.
Alcohol prohibition has given us the opportunity to see the transformation of a once illegal drug become a legal and regulated substance. The 18th amendment of the constitution made alcohol consumption, distribution, and production illegal. The birth of a criminal industry was subsequently created. Prohibition fostered the growth of powerful criminal organizations that would have never
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If the common notion is true that addiction is a disease, then why are we putting the ill in jail cells? If an individual was caught abusing alcohol, AA or a fine would be the solution. Now, let's change the substance to heroin, a drug that if caught with can carry a sentence of up to two years in prison. The difference between the two drugs in the eyes of the law is one is legal while the other is not but, both of these substances can lead to addiction and death if abused. So, according to the law a heroine addict should be put in prison while an alcoholic deserves only substance abuse counseling. The heroin addict now has a criminal record because his biggest mistake was choosing to abuse the wrong substance. The alcoholic also has the advantage of leaving the convicted felon box on applications unchecked while his counterpart does not have this luxury. The drug war has created a system where a convicted drug offender is sent to a correctional facility to fix his ways, but, once the convicts term is served they are asked to assimilate back into a society which demonizes them. Criminal organizations have contributed to this persecution, however their existence has brought about an even more sinister and corrupt