Alternate War on Drugs

Sachyriel

Banned
Well we knew it would be around one day. Anyways, what kind of drugs would be subject to alternate laws about controlling substances? I'm thinking if Prohibition is extended another ten years in the various jurisdictions it could be seen as a massive failure and prohibition concerning the consumption of mind-altering substances isn't tried again unless it's a deeply ingrained religious thing (Islam, certain dry communities). Here's the extended prohibition in the areas around the world.
1900 to 1968 in Prince Edward Island, and for shorter periods in other locations in Canada

1914 to 1935 in Russia and the Soviet Union

1915 to 1932 in Iceland (though beer was still prohibited until 1989)

1916 to 1937
in Norway (fortified wine and beer also prohibited from 1917 to 1933)

1919 to 1929 in Hungary

1919 to 1942 in Finland

1920 to 1943
in the United States of America
Don't be shy, add your own opinions, time lines, etc.
 
I am not sure if there is any real need to change prohibition. The problem in the US was they replaced one difficult-to-enforce restriction (liquor) with another that was difficult-to-enforce (marijuana).

Here is my opinion over a war on drugs that stands a much better chance of working than the system we use today: prosecute the users based on drug tests. Typically, the highly paid end user (professional person) can slip through the cracks with light sentences, when they are in fact the wealthiest source of funds to fuel the drug chain.

Also, we must triage the types of drugs based on their damage potential. Unfortunately, law enforcement likes the stringency placed against marijuana because it boosts their success record for arrests.

Consider these categories:

Category hopeless: Heroin and related opiates can be so destructive that the addicts may never recover completely. The drug must be imported, so the supply is limited. Verdict: let nature enforce its rules and keep the addicts on limited doses or substitutes.

Category large: This includes marijuana and easy-to-grow herbs. Enforce this rule the way alcohol laws are enforced: prosecute those who work, drive or appear in public under the influence, using drug tests. Free up police time for the drugs that need the most attention.

Category control: Cocaine, methamphetamine, lab-produced drugs have high abuse potential along with discrete sources. This is the area where enforcement can do the most good, especially cocaine.

I do not pretend to have a complete drug control plan. But I think the divide and conquer approach might work.
 
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