Controlled substances Revenue

Opiates were legal in the United States until a federal law was enacted in 1914. Until then, it was legal to put opiates into patent medicines, for example, that were sold over-the-counter. The 1914 law was the first to regulate the sale and distribution of controlled substances. This law was not enacted to benefit public health, however, but to generate tax revenue. 

Controlled Substances a drug or other substance, or immediate precursor, included in Schedule I, II, III, IV or V of Part B of Title 2 lUSCS Section 812. The term does not include spirits, wine, malt beverages or tobacco, as those terms are defined ot used in subtitle E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 [26 USCS Sections 5001, et seq.]... 

Alcohol prohibition created a criminal empire, lost huge amounts of tax revenues, caused many deaths in the battles for control of the illegal business, led to the corruption of many police and politicians, and failed to achieve its goal of reducing alcohol consumption. Marijuana prohibition exhibits the same characteristics with one major difference alcohol prohibition did not attempt to punish the users of the illegal substance. 

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