Cultural Contradictions of Punitive Prohibition (From Crack in America: Demon Drugs and Social Justice, P 334-344, 1997, Craig Reinarman and Harry G Levine, eds. - See NCJ-170648)

• NCJ Number: 170664
• Author(s): C Reinarman; H G Levine
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: University of California Press
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

This paper argues the selective fundamentalism of punitive prohibition's defenders cuts across the grain of modern society and will be perceived as problematic by more and more people.

Abstract

The consumption of a relatively few drugs that are currently illicit has become a proverbial small fish in an enormous sea of commodities that are advertised, sold, and consumed because they alter feelings, moods, and consciousness. The future will likely bring even more consumption of commodities, especially as technological developments related to both legal and illegal drugs continue to emerge. The line separating psychoactive recreational drugs from other substances is becoming increasingly blurred, further diluting the efficacy and legitimacy of punitive prohibition. Evidence clearly indicates legal and illegal drug use will continue, punitive prohibition cannot hope to keep up with technological developments in psychopharmacology, and questions about the legitimacy of punitive prohibition will hopefully result in effective drug policy alternatives. 25 references and 4 notes