Why aren't alcohol and drugs banned in America?

[UpdateGloomyNights_]

[Oigit]

There is a huge difference between banning something and truly eliminating it. One of the main differences is that banning something does not eliminate it from all of existence.

For example alcohol was banned for a time and the direct result of that was people creating a illegal industry based around manufacturing and selling alcohol during the time where it was banned.

You can also look at the war on drugs as an example as well. Because the war on drugs created a massive explosion in the illegal drug trade. A explosion that helped create a massive international drug trade. Because the war on drugs made selling illegal drugs in the US much more profitable then it was at any point before.

To the point where illegal operations in other countries started to establish themselves in the US. Simply because they where able to make much higher profits in the US illegal drug trade then they where making in the countries they where based in. Due to this in a lot of ways the US become the center of the illegal drug trade and still is today.

Banning something does cause some people to want to obtain it even more. So it directly increases the demand for it. With the increase in demand, the banned itself becomes more valuable. So it all comes down to supply and demand. With the big difference being that everything is based around a illegal market rather then a legal market.

[Sixgunsound]

Do you have any idea how much money big Pharma or big alcohol make in a year? Even if corporations don’t pay taxes because they pass them along to the consumers, the sheer amount of cash the government would be forfeiting by banning drugs and alcohol is just mind-boggling for the average person. Also, early in the 20th century the government of the United States did in fact try to ban alcohol, and people just got more drunk than they did before! Nobody likes being coerced what to do.

[jennifer_bloom]

They tried to ban both at different times but too many people were using them illegally so the government reversed the ban cause it could not enforce such a large crowd of lawbreakers.

[Aerissa_Jade]

Banning something just makes it go underground, people still do it. Best to regulate it and put extreme penalties on it for those who hurt others while using.

[BillyBalls]

Addicts will want more of what other they are addicted to beyond what the get legally.

In states like Colorado where pot is legal there still a black market for pot.

[Aerissa_Jade]

@BillyBalls Yup and I'm totally for it all being legal... just things like if your high on it and hurt or kill someone the penalties need to be life altering for the offender. So high that no one would think of driving a car while super drunk or way high on pot.

Let it be legal, but lock them up for life if they kill someone, same as if they did it intentionally. Just like waving a gun around in public, no intend to kill someone but it could.

[Sixgunsound]

@BillyBalls that black market is probably to be avoid taxation or registration as a user more than anything else. One of the things they don’t tell you when they open up a dispensary in your area that you are no longer allowed to own firearms if you make a purchase in a dispensary, because you are committing a federal felony with a controlled substance and when you lie on your ATF paperwork you just committed another felony worth ten years and 10k$

[OnKoing]

Why just America, why not ban everything everywhere?
Start with tobacco and work up to being boss of a smuggling organisation; you earn lots and lots, but the customers will start to complain after a while, after which the law will come down on you. Probably get the picture by now

[Intothevoid666]

Alcohol is legal in like 90% of the world by the way and drugs are illegal here only cannabis is legal in some states. Having most other drugs is potentially a serious crime. But drugs are still fairly widely used here. And I mean that’s cuz america believes people should make decisions for themselves even if the decisions seems bad to others.

[Red_Arrow]

Penicillin, Tylenol, cancer drugs, etc. All are drugs. Would you ban them? America banned alcohol before and it ran up great profits for the criminals supplying it to the many, many people who still wanted it. So banning it did not succed.

[Sour-rose]

AMURIIICAAA, FK YEAAAAH

[BCA6010]

We tried that in the prohibition era, and it was a disaster.

[BillyBalls]

Revoking prohibition only increased the decimation of alcohol abuse.

You do realize that, don't you?

[NamerOfStars]

Because it's a free country, and people who can't intoxicate themselves are no freer than dogs.

[FunkyMonkee]

Because they kill people. The only ones they ban are the ones that help you.

[Agape93]

Drugs are and alcohol was. Both turned into shit shows

[NorthwestRider]

Weed is legal

[Agape93]

In some states to varying degrees, and it is still illegal at the federal level.

[joeldalton]

Because free adults get to make decisions for themselves.

[BillyBalls]

Unfortunately, Drug addiction and alcohol abuse are not victimless crimes.

The vast majority of domestic violence cases are alcohol fueled.

Also, as they found out in states like Colorado where pot is legal, there is still a black market for pot.

People say legalize drugs and it will reduce crime. Not really.

Unless an addict has an unlimited, free supply of his drug of choice, he will do anything to get more.

Not to mention, social costs of addiction are high. An addict becomes useless not able to work. Healthwise, maladies related to addiction are usually treated with tax payer dollars.

[joeldalton]

@BillyBalls We’ve had a ‘war on drugs’ for 50 years. And drugs have won. Read a book on prohibition for me.

[BillyBalls]

@joeldalton Prohibition did not stop people from drinking alcohol. No doubt.

However, since the revocation of prohibition in 1933 do you comprehend how much damage alcohol abuse has done to this country?

It has destroyed many individual abusers. It has destroyed millions of families. It has killed many people in numerous ways.

Alcoholism is a strain on the health care industry. My health care premiums and taxes go to subsidize heath care of abusers.

So what exactly is your point in stating that prohibition was a failure? Revoking prohibition didn't solve anything!!

[joeldalton]

@BillyBalls the point of a free society is that some people will fail. That's better than the alternative. You have admitted that prohibition was a failure. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

[Redstang88]

Drugs are mostly illegal, and they tried banning booze once already

[CuriousMufuxka]

Because then white people would riot? Wouldn't matter anyway, some people become rather intuitive when things become illegal..

[Snakeyes7]

They were before, turned out it only lead to creating underground bars to drink in hiding so they removed the ban after around ten years of that.

[Anonymous]

Because some Americans still like to party. Thankfully. But I’m sure that will eventually be outlawed too.

[NorthwestRider]

You sound like you are pro Sharia Law

Get mental help asap

[shortster]

Drugs are banned. We tried banning alcohol and it didn't work out well.

[AFretiredTXn]

The drugs that need to be banned, are banned, but they still make it in.

[ChrisMaster69]

Why would you want to ban Wine

[KostasKouvalis]

We're not some backwards Muslim country

[UpdateGloomyNights_]

so you have all the vice

[exitseven]

because everyone needs an escape.

[CaptainLegal]

Because they are profitable

[Fromdusktilldawn]

So also ban cars because accidents happdn

[Kelly6]

Money
profit
economy

[SignedAutographs]

LOL, no. for certain ages, and certain "drugs"

[SignedAutographs]

Oh, i thought this said "are they"

Why aren't they?

Uh, cause of the amendment they relegalized alcohol, for anyone over 21

drugs are illegal

[SpaceGalaxy]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ That's why

[Anonymous]

Black market would be to profitable

[jahaims]

Freedom