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The linking of cannabis to violence is so ridiculous that it is not really worthy of response, but the link between violent crime and prohibition has been shown to be quite strong. One study ("Violence and the U.S. Prohibitions of Drugs and Alcohol" American Law and Economics Review, 1, Fall 1999) "suggest(s) the homicide rate is currently 25%-75% higher than it would be in the absence of drug prohibition." In a study for the Independence Institute, Economist Kirby Cundiff wrote, "My research indicates that the theory of the primary cause of violent crime in the United States which is most consistent with the available data is a violent black market caused by the War on Drugs today, and Prohibition in the 1920's."

Further, the implementation and repeal of alcohol prohibition coincided with a stunning increase and decrease in violent crime, respectively. A study of ten cities with a total population of ten million showed a 24% increase in crime between 1920 and 1921. Further, "A closer examination of the cities studied indicates that the greatest increases in crime occurred in those that were previously wet; the only cities to experience a decline in arrests were already dry when Prohibition was enacted." In 1933 when prohibition was repealed, crime rates began a massive reversal.

I look forward to the prohibitionists who point to this article as evidence to support prohibition stating that they now favor legalization and pointing to a drop in the crime rate as the reason.