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Re: How do illegal drugs alter the mind as compared to legal drugs?
One component of the banning or regulation of substances has been prejudice. It is utterly common that the progression of legislation has followed demonizing and propaganda largely about a perceived race or social class. There are numerous books and movies not to mention the legal records themselves that document how Harry Anslinger, for example, was at first perplexed at how he was going to manage to enforce outlawing a weed, one that grew wild in the US Capital at the time, but later warmed to it as it became popular and brought him unprecedented power. It was seen as a menace when journalists played up blacks and mexicans as crazed "hop head" fiends out to rape and defile white women. IIRC William Randolph Hearst, was a major mover in this debacle.
Now such propaganda appears ludicrous and "Reefer Madness" and such appears at festivals and on cable as comedy when once it was seen as true and diabolical horror. Slightly off topic but nevertheless similar and pertinent is that erotica was outlawed in western civilization primarily from the pressure of "decent gentlemen" of Victoria's England who, while believing they were immune, were either actually concerned that the great unwashed could be driven to rape of gentile ladies or saw it as a politically hot issue and couldn't resist ringing the Pavlovian Bell.
Racism and Class Arrogance is often behind victimless crime legislation of all kinds as is political motivations when it is seen that large numbers will "salivate". Thus it is OK to own an assault rifle and ammo, or an automobile, but the right kind of weed or flower will get you a jail sentance.
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