Now gin is sold by Schnucks and manufactured by Seagrams in sanitary conditions. The black market has no quality control standards. Until we end prohibition, marijuana will continue to be mixed with dangerous chemicals like rat poison. Conversely, government policies have maximized the harm caused by abuse of narcotics, opiates and marijuana. This included the cost of extra police, drug users in the correctional system, lost productivity of incarcerated criminals, victims of crimes, and lost tax revenue.
Drug abuse is a tragedy, but the war on drugs is a catastrophe.
Jon Bird is a member of Washington University Students for a Sensible Drug Policy.