Pubdate: Mon, 22 Feb 2010
Source: Glenwood Springs Post Independent (CO)
Copyright: 2010 Glenwood Springs Post Independent
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/ys97xJAX
Website: http://www.postindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/821
Author: Jolene Varley

A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON ABOUT PROHIBITION

Michael Colson, first, sex addiction and prostitution are not even 
close to the same as playing video games and eating chips while 
stoned, there is no comparison there, sorry. Get a grip on reality.

History lesson time: Prohibition, also known as The Noble Experiment, 
took place between 1920 and 1933. FYI it failed. In which 
transportation and use of alcohol became illegal, much like marijuana 
is today. Prohibition itself triggered a national crime wave.

There was a movement of people (also called temperance) that blamed 
alcohol for society's tribulations, particularly crime. Just like the 
image marijuana has today.

The consumption of alcohol fell at the beginning of Prohibition, it 
subsequently increased rapidly thereafter. Alcohol became risky to 
consume; crime amplified, and became "organized." Prohibition was 
mandated in the Eighteenth Amendment of the Constitution. The senate 
proposed the 18th Amendment on Dec. 18, 1917, having been accepted by 
36 states. The 18th Amendment went in to effect on Jan. 16, 1920; 
this was the origination of illegal production or distribution of alcohol.

Then came the Volstead Act that distorted things allowing consumption 
of alcohol if it was prescribed by a doctor, marijuana is now 
prescribed. Significant numbers of prescriptions were written. 
Bootlegging became widespread and unmanageable; a new sort of 
gangster arose in history.

During prohibition the government did not have the resources to 
control the issue. People argued that alcohol consumption was a local 
concern, and should not be mandated by the federal government. The 
less government the better. By the year 1925, in New York City alone, 
there were anywhere from 30,000 to 100,000 underground bars. 
Prohibition became increasingly disliked and unpopular during the 
Great Depression. 1932 Aug. 11, Herbert Hoover gave an acceptance 
speech for the Republican presidential nomination, he discussed 
prohibition and the need to end it.

On March 23, 1933, the president signed into law an amendment to the 
Volstead Act known as the Cullen-Harrison Act, allowing the 
manufacture and sale of certain kinds of alcoholic beverages. Dec. 5, 
1933, the confirmation of the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th 
Amendment, and prohibition was over.

Jolene Varley

Carbondale
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom