Why is alcohol illegal and marijuana illegal?

Question

I'm writing a short paper for my sociology class on this topic. Focusing on one reason for each--alcohol is legal because the government is profiting off of it and marijuana is illegal because of the assumption that marijuana use leads to harder drug use. I don't necessarily have to support these statements, but I do have to prove them. Any input on this?

Answer 1

Alcohol is legal (did you know your question says it's "illegal"?) mainly because after the Prohibition, the government looked at what was going on and thought "OH CRAP!"

Prior to the Prohibition in the early 1900's, there was crime of course, but it was a little bit different than it has been ever since then. Before alcohol became illegal, organized crime was a relatively small problem in one or two major cities like New York and Chicago. Then the Temperance Society comes along, pushes for alcohol to be illegal, and it seems like a reasonable idea, so it becomes illegal. All of a sudden, the relatively well-contained problem of the Mafia and other organized crime just exploded, cashing in on the high price of bootleg liquor. Speakeasies started cropping up not only in New York and Philly and Chicago, but in your relatively small midwestern towns. The speakeasies not only pushed and served illegal alcohol, it brought people into the underworld, fueled by money, liquor, gambling, and other crimes. Your all-American "good ol' boys" who had formerly gathered at the local bar or saloon and occasionally got in a brawl now were consorting with hardened criminals if they wanted to enjoy a drink. Basically, the government's decision to make alcohol illegal was the number one reason organized crime is as wide-spread and dangerous as it has been since that time. When they saw they had only made problems worse for themselves, the government made alcohol legal again.

Marijuana, though, is strong and works quickly. After one or two drags, you can start to get high. You drink two beers and get in the car, most people can drive, no problem (whether they SHOULD or not is another story). If you smoke two joints, though, you can be REALLY dangerous behind the wheel of a car.

Answer 2

Well alcohol used to be illegal. It was called Prohibition. During that time, people smuggled liquor and made lots of money. The were called bootleggers. Secret clubs sprang up around cities where people would go to drink. People souped up their cars just so they could outrun the police when they were bootlegging. Organized crime also got involved in this business. The government saw what was happening and decided to make alcohol legal and tax it.

As far as marijuana, it's a bit harder to track. Alcohol have been made by companies for hundreds of years. They use bottling and marketing to sell their products. With marijuana, it's a bit different. There are some cases where marijuana is legal for medical purposes. However if weed was legal, it would be difficult for the goevrnment to regulate and tax it. There are no real companies growing marijuana so it will be difficult. It may also be that they think it could lead to harder drugs. Marijuana sales also fund other illegal activities and so it has remained illegal.

Answer 3

Good question, wish I had a good answer for you!! You may want to check out www.norml.org, I'd bet you can find some useful info there.

My personal opinion on the matter is that it should be the other way around. Look at how many lives are shattered due to alcohol use. Whether it be the breakdown of a family unit due to alcoholism, a life lost because of a drunk driver or a baby born with fetal alcohol syndrome... alcohol destroys lives! And just how many times do you think a man has comes home after a night out "smoking" to beat his wife? I'd be willing to bet very few, chances are he just wants to get a snack and get to bed!!!

In regards to your statement regarding marijauna use I do feel that many times it CAN lead to harder drug use. I feel this is because as children we are tought that drugs are bad. (most of them are) Many times the first drug that kids try is marijauna. They then see first hand that it really isn't as "bad" as they had been told. When they realize they aren't going to die from doing it and they aren't going to become an addicted drug fiend (Have you ever seen the way D.A.R.E. portrays someone who uses marijuana??? It is quite comical!) they may feel as if they've been lied to or misinformed about drugs all together and decide to try some of the other drugs that they had been warned about. Sadly, the things they learned about those other drugs are true, they can die from abusing them and they can become addicted after using for only a very short time.

Answer 4

It could be argued that "government" makes money on both when you consider that prosecuting people for posession and use adds plenty of money to city and state coffers, and besides, alcohol is relatively easy and cheap to make at home if you want to, so better to just let folks drink and make the money on taxes.Marijuana , on the other hand is a bulky and large drug to smuggle, hence easier to find and bust marijuana smugglers than say, heroin or cocaine because of the relatively small amount needed to turn a huge profit smuggling

Answer 5

Alcohol is legal. Marijuana is illegal because politicians pander to the drug companies and right wingers like Bush (Do as I say, not as I do) himself a well known reformed marijuana and cocaine user.

Answer 6

profit VS. harder drug use ? you will see that the cotton growers/slave owners made marijuana illegal. That the economy was collapsing...Cannibis Sativa has more uses than any other organic plant.From combustible fuels to durable goods.The harvesting of cannibis is a simple procedure,only needing a tractor and a bailer.ie "hay bailer"good luck on the proof

Answer 7

For marijuana go here: http://www.jackherer.com/chapters.html , that is a great book about it. Chapter 5 is about marijuana prohibition and you can read it online on that site.

Answer 8

Alcohol isn't illegal...

Answer 9

there probably is much more profit in alcohol then there is marijuana

Answer 10

Look for better resources. Ask the reference librarian.