Why are marijuana, opium, cocaine, and other naturally based drugs still illegal?

Question

The drugs laws of America where created in the very late 1800's and early 1900's as a way to discriminate against minorities and immigrants that used these drugs. Opium was used by Asian immigrants, and the white government did not want to be overrun by Asians in California, so they found a way to slow the influx by making Opium Illegal. The same for Mexican immigrants and Marijuana. The 14th Ammendment of the U.S. Constitution states "...No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law...". Shouldnt all the drug laws be repealed since they were illegal under the constitution in the first place. SERIOUS ANSWERS PLEASE!

For all of you that say it is a health issue, that is just absolutely rediculous. Ciggaretes and Alcohol are just as bad for your health as these other drugs if not worse, and they are perfectly legal, that is just something you can say but it is not a reason to make them illegal. If everything that is bad for your health was illegal, McDonald's should be tried for treason!

Answer 1

Yeah, I think it was the Harrison Narcotic Tax Act of 1914 that served to circumvent the U.S. Constitution. Prior to that act, the constitution, through the 14th amendment, forbade the U.S. government from telling any person what they could or couldn't put into their body. As you say, it was largely for prejudicial and discriminatory reasons these laws were originally implemented. Harry Anslinger used racism against Mexicans and blacks as a method for scaring people into agreeing to ban marijuana. It's been a slippery slope since then.

Generally, my view is as long as you're not harming anyone against their will, then you should be allowed to live life as you see fit. That is freedom as the constitution defined it.

Before I get slammed, this doesn't mean I agree that people should be dope heads. But it's none of my business what they do as long as what they do doesn't hurt anyone else against their will. And don't anyone say that if we didn't have laws against drugs they'd be rampant and everyone would be addicted. Not true. The laws didn't exist until earlier this century. Before that we didn't have any more addicts than we do now (in fact it could be argued that we have a LARGER percentage than we did). Drugs are rampant despite the decades of having harsh laws against them. And after all the money spent and lives lost to death or prison as a direct result of these laws, what do we have to show for our efforts?

The primary stated purpose of the drug war is to reduce harm to society caused by drugs. If this is so, then why is the government using methods and tactics that are more harmful to society than the drugs they seek to eliminate?

For those that raise the health issue as a reason for making it illegal, why not treat a health issue as a health issue and NOT A CRIMINAL ISSUE? Just because something might be unhealthy is NOT a reason for banning its use. Get real. Think of all the things we'd have to ban if we used their general risk to health as a measuring stick for legality.

Answer 2

The bible never mentions drugs as the concept of drugs is a relatively new one. I think that as far as the buybull goes there are a couple of schools of thought. 1) some reference to the body being a temple and you shouldn't damage temples? 2)Getting drunk is bad which could probably be stuck to over using any drug, not just alchohol. 3)This is one bible passage that I personally believe blows any arguement of cannabis being a 'sin' well and trully out the water - Genesis 1:29- "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." EDIT: Not Of This World has got a point, it does say that. However that must also mean that it's only been a 'sin' for the last 100 or so years. Which is a shame!

Answer 3

The United States created laws in the early 1900's to prevent drugs from infiltrating "White America." This is not an assumption this is a fact and you can read about it all over the place. To argue it kills you and is bad for you is absurd. Guns are responsible for thousands of deaths yearly and yet those are protected under our constitution. People were scared to death a few years back of bird flu and only like 100 people died world wide from it. If you tell people things enough times they will believe it. Wake up and smell the real threat, it is not drugs, it is not terror attacks or some crazy new disease, it is power and greed!!!

Answer 4

The only difference between alcohol and natural based drugs is that a person can legally use alcohol after a certain age, whereas drugs are always illegal. However, just because something is legal it doesn't mean that it's good for you.

I do not have a problem with cigarettes, Alcohol or in some cases Marijuana (if used socially and not abused) - however I do have a problem with the thought of people using opium, cocaine etc etc

To be fair - alcohol and cigarettes, although legal - have got very strict limitations. for example, where Im from (uk) You are not allowed to smoke in a public place as its illegal (eg, resteraunts, pubs, trainstations, bus stops etc etc) and You are not allowed to drink on the street, (basically anywhere that has not got a liscence and isnt your house).

Cigarettes and Alcohol (and in cases marijuana) are thought of as social things... the others are thought of as underground, dodgy, life destroying things... - but who knows, thats just my opinion.

Answer 5

Well, I am not a fan of conspiracy theories but one that I have heard that does make a little sense is that there is big money in keeping the drug laws where they are. There are many private companies that make a lot of money off of prisons. The people who build them, the people who supply them, the guards and their union, and so on and so forth. There is a large percentage of people in prison on drug charges. If the laws were changed then there would be less people going to prison which would mean that there would be less money to be made. I do not know if any of this is true but it does make some sense on the surface. I heard this from a friend of mine who had the pleasure of being incarcerated for a couple of years on a DUI offense. This is the story that he tells. I have not researched it myself, so I just present it as he presents it with my little disclaimer here.

Answer 6

Because they aren't making money off it, they are making more money thru taxes earmarked to stop it. Plus if they let you use weed for medicine the lobbyist making a similarly effective medicine won't be very happy.
Drugs will never go away, the war on drugs is a waste. People who get caught should not have their lives ruined and placed in with rapist and murders over a moral issue. That is what the drug issue is an economic and moral issue.
VOTE RON PAUL 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

From time to time laws need to be made in the name of public protection. Opium and cocaine are both highly addictive narcotics that do alter your perception of reality. They do need to be off the streets. Chemically addictive substances that cause delusions are scary business. This is why the Pharmaceutical industry is so heavily regulated. Also to think that Opium and Cocaine as we find them are natural is a little naive. They have been heavily process and additives have been introduced to effect the potency.

As for marijuana, I see no issue with it. I do not smoke pot, however have dabble in university and find it to be no more offensive the alcohol. It does impair your judgment, just as alcohol does, however it is not physically addictive and does not create delusions.. It is rare that additives have been introduced and it is about as safe as alcohol to consume (which still doe not say too much).

I am all for decriminalization of marijuana, only so that we can tax the hell out of it and free up a few spots in prisons.

Answer 8

The body of your question contains an important fact:

"Opium was used by Asian immigrants, and the white government did not want to be overrun by Asians in California, so they found a way to slow the influx by making Opium Illegal"

Drugs can be used to control populations and make them complacent to your desires. They also interfere with one's ability to work and take care of themselves. It's in your best interest to not do drugs. We've all used them, but even users should be aware of this.

Answer 9

Opiates and alkaloid drugs are mala en se, highly addictive and more often than not lead to lawlessness and a breakdown in personal relationships. In the late 1800's, many non-minority, white social elite were touting the miracle properties of cocaine. In 1884, Sigmund Freud, wrote an essay,"On Coca" in which he wrote,"Cocaine wards off hunger, sleep and fatigue and steels one to greater intellectual effort". The unfortunate thing was that many well meaning people, who were educated in the medical disciplines, touted the alleged benefits of cocaine, without knowing the negative aspects of the drug. I refer you to an article titled, "America's First Cocaine Epidemic", published in the summer 1989 issue of the Wilson Quarterly.

Your argument that the Constitution's, Bill of Rights, guarantees a person's pursuit of happiness is flawed. A person who robs a bank, for the money to purchase heroin or crack for the happiness it may bring him, is no less a felon nor is his right to pursue his personal happiness violated.

Laws are enacted for the greater good, within the guidelines set forth in the Bill of Rights.

Answer 10

The constitutional argument is lame. Using your broad interpretation, any act by any citizen can be described as constitutionally protected and the government is powerless to pass legislation which prevents anyone from doing anything. There are legitimate arguments out there for legalizing drugs, but this isn't one of them.