# So who the hell does support drug prohibition? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2012, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557 "2012-11-10T08:13:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/1 "2012-11-10T08:13:42Z")
I know you all will mention that “nobody I know voted for Nixon!” meme, but for real at this point I’m baffled as to what demo is being catered to by being pro-drug war among politicians. Even my father born in 1939 who is certainly not a cutting edge progressive is against drug prohibition at this point, and I mean everything not just pot. Who are these people?! ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/2 "2012-11-10T08:32:53Z")
I think the vast majority of people _favor_ drug prohibition, excepting pot. Many of those people may not agree with the “War on Drugs” as it’s currently being waged, but I don’t think there’s more than a tiny minority of people who are against the prohibition of all drugs. So, to answer your question about who supports drug prohibition in general: Almost everybody - specially if ending all drug prohibitions meant crack/meth/heroin heads in \*their \*neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/3 "2012-11-10T10:08:33Z")
Many of those who make money from it:[ul][li]police & other law enforcement (but certainly not all of them).[/li][li]prison operators.[/li][li]companies that run drug-testing labs.[/li][li]lawyers who defend people on drug charges.[/li][li]drug rehab clinics.[/li][li]drug counselors.[/li][li]‘ministers’ who run ‘pray the addiction away’ ministries.[/li][li]academics who get grant money to study drug addiction, effectiveness of cessation programs, etc.[/li][li]PR specialists who design anti-drug ads.[/li][li]media who run anti-drug ads.[/li][li]stores that sell drug paraphernalia.[/li][li]inner-city corner grocery stores that make profits from selling powdered sugar, tiny zip-lock bags, and snacks to dealers who hang out in front.[/li][li]writers who sell stories about drugs (or legalization thereof).[/li][li]maybe even … message boards who up their traffic count by having threads about hot-button topics like drug prohibition?[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/4 "2012-11-10T10:12:08Z")
To quote a schoolmate of mine at our class reunion: “Drugs today are a lot stronger than the drugs we used!” (Note: she was using the generic “we”. I have always been a teetotaler.) A lot of parents think that their children are more fragile than the parents were at that age. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/5 "2012-11-10T10:19:48Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > I think the vast majority of people _favor_ drug prohibition, excepting pot. Many of those people may not agree with the “War on Drugs” as it’s currently being waged, but I don’t think there’s more than a tiny minority of people who are against the prohibition of all drugs. > > So, to answer your question about who supports drug prohibition in general: Almost everybody - specially if ending all drug prohibitions meant crack/meth/heroin heads in \*their \*neighborhood. I agree, so **voltaire’s** post must be correct! ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/6 "2012-11-10T14:23:48Z")
me ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/7 "2012-11-10T14:39:25Z")
You need to define “drug.” No regulation on meth, heroin, cocaine? You’re kidding me, right? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/8 "2012-11-10T15:07:47Z")
Legalizing all drugs is crazy talk. I can’t get behind that. That said, I heard a former Judge of twenty plus years speak on this matter. He’s all for legalizing all drugs in the same manor we do alcohol. His theory, which does sound fairly sound, is that you can take about a third of the money you wont be spending on the prison system anymore and throw towards state rehab centers. With the legalization of drugs there would no doubt be an influx of Addicts. So we would need those state rehab centers. But the good news is, they only cost a third of what it cost to run a prison. And rehab centers have a much higher success rate of rehabilitating Addicts than do prisons. (By very large margins if I remember correctly.) ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/9 "2012-11-10T15:21:11Z")
In reality, there are quite a number of people who use all sorts of illicit drugs on a regular basis who are not addicted to them. They use them for recreational purposes, and not just marijuana. It stunned me to find this to be true, but it makes sense. This is a multibillion dollar industry just in the USA. It is very hard to imagine it is run off of people who are not able to afford the drugs. But, as was pointed out quite well, upthread, there are very powerful market forces in place to make decriminalization extremely unlikely. We may get marijuana to be a taxed and monitored product (much as alcohol is) but hallucinogens and other euphoria inducing drugs will probably never become legal (at least in the USA and within 50 years). Too much time and effort has been invested by too many people with deep pockets to make such an idea a reliable possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/10 "2012-11-10T15:38:15Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > You need to define “drug.” > > No regulation on meth, heroin, cocaine? You’re kidding me, right? Again the Dope excludes middle grounds. There is a vast gulf between “no prohibition” and “no regulation.” ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/11 "2012-11-10T15:40:58Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > His theory, which does sound fairly sound, is that you can take about a third of the money you wont be spending on the prison system anymore and throw towards state rehab centers. And take it a step further - deal with the issues that often lead drug/alcohol addiction. Childhood abuse, neglect and mental issues spring to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/12 "2012-11-10T15:42:51Z")
I’m against all drug legalization at the state level. If the fed wants to make pot legal, I don’t have a problem with it. But doing it at the state level means attracting every vagrant and asshole from across the country to your area and impacts law enforcement, schools and public assistance programs. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/13 "2012-11-10T16:12:00Z")
I believe punishments should fit crimes. I think it’s possible to have a controlled substances schedule without felony charges, prison terms, and asset forfeitures. So, restrictions on drugs I’m OK with, the drug war I’m not. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/14 "2012-11-10T16:47:46Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Many of those who make money from it:[ul][li]police & other law enforcement (but certainly not all of them).[/li][li]prison operators.[/li][li]companies that run drug-testing labs.[/li][li]lawyers who defend people on drug charges.[/li][li]drug rehab clinics.[/li][li]drug counselors.[/li][li]‘ministers’ who run ‘pray the addiction away’ ministries.[/li][li]academics who get grant money to study drug addiction, effectiveness of cessation programs, etc.[/li][li]PR specialists who design anti-drug ads.[/li][li]media who run anti-drug ads.[/li][li]stores that sell drug paraphernalia.[/li][li]inner-city corner grocery stores that make profits from selling powdered sugar, tiny zip-lock bags, and snacks to dealers who hang out in front.[/li][li]writers who sell stories about drugs (or legalization thereof).[/li][li]maybe even … [\*]message boards who up their traffic count by having threads about hot-button topics like drug prohibition?[/li][/ul] very true, good list add the people that make money making and selling selling alcohol - they would prefer pot not be any easier to get than it already is, I would think. and wouldn’t it be cheaper if it were legal? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/15 "2012-11-10T17:14:24Z")
> [@grude](#): > > I know you all will mention that “nobody I know voted for Nixon!” meme, but for real at this point I’m baffled as to what demo is being catered to by being pro-drug war among politicians. > > Even my father born in 1939 who is certainly not a cutting edge progressive is against drug prohibition at this point, and I mean everything not just pot. > > Who are these people?! What planet of you live on? Do you buy your bubbles from the same place the extreme conservatives get theirs? As other have noted the VAST majority of US adults support prohibiting hard drugs. There is movement on the edges re softer drugs like pot, but most people are solidly against legalizing hard drugs. Only a tiny percentage of people are in favor of legalizing all drugs. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/16 "2012-11-10T17:26:49Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > With the legalization of drugs there would no doubt be an influx of Addicts. So we would need those state rehab centers. But the good news is, they only cost a third of what it cost to run a prison. And rehab centers have a much higher success rate of rehabilitating Addicts than do prisons. (By very large margins if I remember correctly.) And it would probably significantly reduce crime done because drugs are expensive and illegal. Theft to support the expensive habits and the violence used protect the drug dealers turfs and stuff like that. ALSO much of police time that is used to wage war on drugs and deal the above fallout could be focused on the crime and crime prevention of illegal activities that have nothing to do with drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/17 "2012-11-10T17:32:56Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’m against all drug legalization at the state level. If the fed wants to make pot legal, I don’t have a problem with it. But doing it at the state level means attracting every vagrant and asshole from across the country to your area and impacts law enforcement, schools and public assistance programs. I’m in favor of pot legalization as Mapuche as anyone, but I doubt it would be suffient incentive for someone to actually move to a different state. It’s not that hard to brpe a pot smoker even in states clinging to prohibition. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/18 "2012-11-10T17:39:04Z")
[quote=“[t-bonham@scc.net](mailto:t-bonham@scc.net), post:3, topic:640557”] [li]stores that sell drug paraphernalia.[/li][/QUOTE] Hmmm, I was going to disagree with this but yeah, it would be partially true, but only after the culture has shifted toward acceptability so that paraphernalia could be sold at department stores without anyone batting an eye. But until the culture shifts toward that much acceptance, you’ll see a broadened base of casual users, who would all need their own paraphernalia. Unless pre-rolled joints become almost as cheap as tobacco, there’d still be advantages to using paraphernalia. In addition there would still be the paraphernalia-related culture which would keep them going, or even expand, for a few years, until pot became completely mainstream. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/19 "2012-11-10T17:42:51Z")
As someone who used to make a living defending people accused of drug cimes, I can assure you that most such lawyers support legalization. Watching the human cost of prohibition makes you look past narrow self interest. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557/20 "2012-11-10T18:39:23Z")
I think there can be made some very strong cases for legalizing pot. Perhaps even the hard drugs that do a lot more physical and psychological damage. But there are a huge percentage of christian conservatives who see all drugs as bad, and very few politicians want to write these voters off forever by supporting legalization. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-the-hell-does-support-drug-prohibition/640557.md?page=2)