NCJ Number
140451
Journal
Contemporary Drug Problems Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1992) Pages: 27-52
Date Published
1992
Length
26 pages
Annotation
The example of the national prohibition of alcohol between 1920 and 1933 is frequently invoked by proponents of legalizing recreational drugs. These individuals believe the present war on drugs will fail just as prohibition did.
Abstract
Arguments for drug legalization follow the traditional interpretation of prohibition as a foolish mistake and a moral evil. Two arguments are made against the prohibition and drug analogy: (1) significant differences exist between the two eras that tend to undermine the prolegalization analogy; and (2) many arguments of prolegalizers are weakened by their reliance on popular beliefs about prohibition rather than on recent historical evidence. Therefore, attempts to create the analogy between prohibition and drugs serve only to confuse the debate over drug legalization. 41 notes