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Prohibtion
Prohibition in the United States was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933. Prohibitionists first attempted to end the trade in alcoholic beverages during the 19th century. -
Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970
Enacted October 27, 1970, is a United States federal law that, with subsequent modifications, requires the pharmaceutical industry to maintain physical security and strict record keeping for certain types of drugs. -
Controlled Substance Act
President Richard Nixon signed the Controlled Substances Act into law in 1970. This calls for the regulation of certain drugs and substances. The CSA outlines five “schedules” used to classify drugs based on their medical application and potential for abuse.
Schedule 1 drugs are considered the most dangerous, as they pose a very high risk for addiction with little evidence of medical benefits. Marijuana, LSD, heroin, MDMA and other drugs are included on the list of Schedule 1 drugs. -
Nixon Declares War on Drugs
In June 1971, Nixon officially declared a “War on Drugs,” stating that drug abuse was public enemy number one. A rise in recreational drug use in the 1960s likely led to President Nixon’s focus on targeting some types of substance abuse. As part of the War on Drugs initiative, Nixon increased federal funding for drug-control agencies and proposed strict measures, such as mandatory prison sentencing for drug crimes. -
Say No to Drugs
In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan reinforced and expanded many of Nixon’s War on Drugs policies. In 1984, his wife Nancy Reagan launched the “Just Say No” campaign, which was intended to highlight the dangers of drug use. President Reagan’s refocus on drugs and the passing of severe penalties for drug-related crimes in Congress and state legislatures led to a massive increase in incarcerations for nonviolent drug crimes. -
Anti Drug Abuse Act
Congress passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which established mandatory minimum prison sentences for certain drug offenses. This law was later heavily criticized as having racist ramifications because it allocated longer prison sentences for offenses involving the same amount of crack cocaine (more common amongst black Americans) as powder cocaine (used more often by white Americans). Five grams of crack triggered an automatic five-year sentence, while it took 500 grams of powder cocaine. -
Decriminalization of Marijuana
Starting with Oregon in 1973, individual states began to liberalize cannabis laws through decriminalization. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis, sparking a trend that spread to a majority of states by 2016. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational. -
Legal Medical Marjiuana Use
July 14, 2014 medical marijuana legalized when Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation allowing edibles, oils, pills, and vaporization, but not smoking. June 20, 2019: full decriminalization bill passed legislature, sending the bill to Governor Cuomo, who is expected to sign it. -
Decriminalization of Marijauna
In the United States, the non-medical use of cannabis is decriminalized in 15 states (plus the U.S. Virgin Islands), and legalized in another 11 states (plus Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia), as of June 2019.
