Legalization of Marijuana vs. Prohibition of Alcohol

            While President Franklin D. Roosevelt supported the repeal of prohibition in 1932, our current president has not spoken an opinion on the legalization of marijuana.  Even though we are now in a different time period and discussing two very different mind-altering substances, the fight for each is quite analogous.  Supporters for both argue that legalization would reduce crime and law enforcement would have the opportunity to focus on more serious crimes.  The opponents argue that usage could be seen as morally wrong, lead to more danger and drug abuse, and that it could find its way into children’s hands. 

            Back during the time that prohibition of alcohol was being argued, many proponents of the cause argued that without alcohol there would be less crime.  Many believed that alcohol lead to violent behavior.  Today, people are arguing that legalizing marijuana would decreases crime through the reduction of drug cartels (Messerli). Seventy percent of cartels’ business comes from the dispersing of marijuana.  But would it really reduce crime overall?  With the legalization of marijuana, state governments would have to create new laws to regulate the age of users, amount of consumption, and laws to protect against driving and performing other activities while high (Ferner).  When alcohol was once again legalized in the United States many of the same questions were brought up.  Even with these new kinds of laws, people believe that their would be less police work used in regard to marijuana related crimes (McLaughlin).  During the 1930’s they believed that without the consumption of alcohol, there would be less crime in general.  Even though today’s argument is to legalize marijuana and past arguments were to ban alcohol, the results of each are believed to be similar and related.

            The banning of alcohol and the fight to keep marijuana banned have almost the same arguments (Al-Khatib).  Even if they do not end up with the same results, they will go down in the history books together.  The argument that each is morally wrong stems from stricter religious beliefs in the 1930’s.  Some people believed that drinking alcohol was wrong and now some believe that the use of the drug marijuana is wrong.  Both are substances that alter the mind and ability to think and make decisions (Messerli).  Opponents to the legalization see marijuana as a stepping stone to harder drugs such as cocaine or heroin and are concerned that one day these could be legalized as well.  If marijuana is completely legalized, it would be much easier for the drug to be available to children, and people could be victimized by second hand smoke.  Alcohol and marijuana are seen to have many of the same negative effects and drawbacks in the race to legalization. 

            Prohibition took place during a very different time period, and yet it can still be used to compare with the legalization of marijuana today.  The arguments for both were based on the same theories and opinions.  Even though we do not yet know the complete result of the fight over marijuana, it could be predicted to conclude similarly to prohibition.

 

 

 

Al-Khatib, Talal. “Discovery News.” DNews. Discovery Communications, LLC., 12

Nov. 2012. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.
The Discovery Channel is a sponsored television network that provides information through documentaries, TV shows, and news articles. They not only provide information about current issues, but also history.

Ferner, Matt. “Rachel Maddow Draws Parallels Between Marijuana Legalization In

Colorado, Washington And End Of Alcohol Prohibition.” The Huffington Post.

TheHuffingtonPost.com, 14 Nov. 2012. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.
The Huffington Post is a newspaper that provides information about national issues. People around the country read it with the intention of being provided with accurate information.

McLaughlin, Eliott C. “Marijuana Advocates Hope to Rise from ‘prohibition'” CNN.

Cable News Network, 04 Dec. 2012. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.
CNN is a reputable news source. Many people rely on CNN to provide accurate information. For a long time they have been used to find information on certain topics and they inform the public about current events.

Messerli, Joe. “Should Marijuana Be Legalized under Any Circumstances?”

BalancedPolitics.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.
Balanced Politics is a website that provides different political opinions and the information about the arguments used to support them.