Fatal Features of the Prohibition Blunder: Endangering Citizens
- Prohibition Blunder
- Jul 23
- 2 min read
We all know, or perhaps ourselves experienced, the effect that overly strict parenting has on an already rebellious child: the child usually sneaks out of the house, parties harder and more often, and ultimately gets into much more trouble than if the parent empowers the child through education and relationship, and exemplifies wise decision-making in an effort to influence good behavior and habits.
A 2020 article by Nicole Wells in Political Science Now bears witness to much the same effect as a result of the decades-old war on drugs that has continuously and increasingly failed to curb drug-related violence. It is estimated that 150,000 murders have been committed in Mexico alone since 2007 due to drug violence. In response, the U.S. and Mexico have increased armed drug raids, incarcerations, and violent interventions to curb the flow and supply of illegal drugs. But, in the same way that overly strict parenting often increases rebellious behavior, a recent study by political scientist Dorothy Kronick and economist Juan Castillo highlights how militant policies often increase the violence they initially aim to curtail.
The authors of this study argue, among other things, that “arresting or killing drug kingpins has unintended consequences. When cartel leaders are constantly fearful of imminent arrest or assassination, they get impatient. They care less about making profits in the distant future, and more about making money today. That also sparks conflict, increasing cartel-vs-cartel violence.”
Read the full article and compare with more recent cases of Prohibition-related citizen endangerment in the links below. It is only through effective regulation via legalization that the immoral War on Drugs can be stopped and millions of lives—young and old—can be saved.
Watch our video The Prohibition Blunder: Why America Needs Drug Legalization Now to learn more about the effort to legalize and regulate drugs and how #YourPowerfulVoice is the key to shifting to this winning strategy.
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