What caused the government to lift the ban of alcohol (prohibition)?

Question

and what are the chances of alcohol becoming illegal again?

and what are the odds of the government legalizing marijuana?

Answer 1

to the person who claimed alcohol can be in moderation and pot can't, that is absolute BS, pot is not destructive at all, but alcohol really ruins lives. i have seen this happen first hand (both actually)

Answer 2

The distribution of alcohol became controlled by organized crime. The only way to stop that was by legalizing it.  And yes, your point is well taken about marijuana. There are a lot of good arguments both against and in favor of legalizing it. The quesiton of organized crime is, of course, one of the most important points in favor.

RDIT.

There is also a difference, of course. it is possible to take alcohol in moderation. I don-t think any amount of marijuana could be considered to be moderate. It is extremely destructive.

Answer 3

The prohibition of alcohol, despite the obvious demand for it, created a perfect business opportunity for violent organized crime (e.g. Al Capone).  Legalization made that market for crime disappear over night and allowed the government to tax and regulate the production, distribution, sale, and consumption of alcohol.  I think the odds of another prohibition on alcohol are slim to none.  There is a growing movement to legalize, or at least de-criminalize the personal use of marijuana for the same reasons that alcohol was legalized.  In fact, there was a bill introduced to Congress just this week which would de-criminalize its use.  I don't know if it will happen this go around, but eventually it will.

Answer 4

Because they said that if the men joining the army could fight for their country, then they could drink, too.

Seriously.  

Answer 5

The mob "St. Valentines Day Massacre".

Now the mob operates in the Democratic party, so who knows.

Answer 6

Politicians like to drink.

Answer 7

Two Reasons:

Because it gave rise to organized crime and gangs. Bootlegging became a major source of income for criminals and that just caused more issues.

Also, when the depression rolled around government was looking for any way to provide new jobs. The liquor industry is one of those industries that is not effected that much by poor economic performance. When the economy is good people party and drink a lot, but when the economy is bad people still drink a lot out of depression or for a good feeling in dull times. That in mind, by repealing prohibition it reopened another industry that would certainly be successful. There were more jobs and GDP rose.

The same theory certainly applies to pot. Prohibition of marijuana funds gangs and keeps cities from prospering. The federal government spends 10 billions dollars a year to fund "The War on Drugs" and each year that budget continues to rise. Despite all this money, drugs are now easier to get then they were before because our war against them only creates a market with a higher value for the substances. The common myth is that prohibition gives you total control over a substance, when the reality is it gives all power away because you make a market for it. One way or another where there is a demand there will be a supply....and if the product is illegal it makes it scarce which makes it more valuable. Higher prices just create an incentive for more people to get into the industry. Our drug laws are broken.

There is hope though, some politicians like Ron Paul realize this and are fighting for change,

Answer 8

Well basically, alcohol prohibition was lifted because of the large increase in crime related to it. Such people as Al Capone were heavily involved in it.

I'd say the chances of alcohol becoming illegal again is slim to none because of the amount of money/lobbyists the alcohol industry has/gives to the government.

As for marijuana, I would say that within your life time at least medical marijuana will be legalized (in the U.S.) As for total legalization, some states (see California and Oregon) are working towards that as we speak.

Answer 9

Making Alcohol illegal , led to the rise of organized crime.

   There isn't anyone in the government who has the balls to stand up and say we have to stop making criminals out of marijuana users .. they still give people a hard time who have a medical need for it.

  It could be simple . Put marijuana cigarettes in 20 packs , sell them in package stores to only those of age . The government could tax it . and no one would become a criminal for buying or selling or possessing it. The price would actually go down , the taxes would help us out , and you would be able to rely on the quality of what you get .

But that is actually too logical an idea for Americans to wrap their closed minds around .