[ketelone]

That, and the fact that attempts were made in the 1920s to ban alcohol, and failed. Prohibition.

[CheyennePress]

Prohibition actually cut down on the consumption of alcohol. Problem is that it just created whole criminal enterprises for some dodgy, risk-taking entrepreneurs.

[jocon307]

It's only a matter of time before they repeat the failed prohibition experiment with tobacco.

[Moonman62]

That, and the fact that attempts were made in the 1920s to ban alcohol, and failed. Prohibition.

Alcohol prohibition was designed to fail. It had loopholes like legal possession, and medical prescriptions.

[aruanan]

That, and the fact that attempts were made in the 1920s to ban alcohol, and failed. Prohibition.

And don't forget there was a death penalty for tobacco use once upon a time in Europe as well as asset forfeiture and disfigurement.

The great cost to society in the use of drugs doesn't come through the effects of the drugs on the individuals using them. These effects happen regardless of the political/legal status of the drug. It's all the added features caused by criminalization: drug wars and all the money involved on both sides. Neither is willing to give up the cash cow that illegalization has made possible. That's where the addiction truly lies.