The United States Constitution gives the federal government jurisdiction to prosecute only three types of crime — piracy, counterfeiting and treason. Authority to legislate and prosecute all other criminal matters — from vagrancy to murder — was left to the several states. Thus, it required a constitutional amendment to add an additional category of criminal offense to the national purview. In 1913 the 18th amendment prohibited the possession, distribution and consumption of America’s favorite intoxicant — alcohol. This “Noble Experiment” in attempting to control people’s appetites by criminal sanction was an utter failure and two decades later 21st amendment removed the 18th amendment. It’s unclear where the authority of the federal government to criminalize other substances was subsequently discovered. What is crystal clear, however, is both the danger and futility of all such efforts, the particular substance notwithstanding. P
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More on the War on Drugs:
- Going around politicians to help sick people
- Drug war casualties
- A conservative divorce
- Yet another “Worst Drug Ever”
- Drug Wars
Tags: drug war, drugs, jurisdiction, prohibition, self-ownership, states, unalienable rights
