The End of Prohibition

Today, April 7, 2006, is the 73rd anniversary of the repeal of alcohol prohibition in the U.S. Although the 21st Amendment -- which overturned the 18th Amendment that originally outlawed alcohol -- was not passed until December 1933, President Roosevelt signed emergency legislation on April 7 to allow the sale of beer (and reportedly had a shipment of cold ones delivered to the White House).

Imagine! The people of our country recognized the utter failure of prohibition: the complete failure to end drinking, the criminalization of responsible citizens, the flourishing of violent crime organizations. And what did America do about it? We stopped. We refused to continue pursuing a failed policy. Such common sense, it's almost hard to believe.

By contrast, the prohibition of marijuana has continued for almost 70 years, and for more than 30 years we've been fighting a war on marijuana. And what do we have to show for it? The complete failure to end marijuana use, the criminalization of responsible citizens, and the flourishing of violent crime organizations.

Let's make another commonsense decision: Pass the marijuana initiative. Register to vote, volunteer, donate.