What is the difference between slavery and the War on Drugs? To answer this, let us look at the essence of both.
Under slavery, an individual is forced to act contrary to his own judgment. The slave is forced to work for another individual, and his “compensation” depends entirely upon the slave master. There is nothing voluntary or consensual in such an arrangement. The slave is treated as property, and his actions are under the complete control of the slave master. If the slave master declares some action objectionable, the slave must obey or be subject to punishment.
Under the War on Drugs, an individual is forced to act contrary to his own judgment. The individual is force to abstain from ingesting certain items, whether alcohol, marijuana, or whatever the government deems objectionable. There is nothing voluntary or consensual in such Prohibitions. The individual is treated as the property of government (or “the people”), and his actions are under the complete control of government (or “the people”). If the government (or “the people”) declares some action objectionable, the individual must obey or be subject to punishment.
Under both slavery and the War on Drugs, the individual is forced to act contrary to his own judgment. The individual is forced to act as others decree. His life is under the control of others, and he is compelled to act as they dictate, no matter his own desires, interests, or values. His life is under the control of others.
Appeals to “the people” are nothing more than the fallacy of ad populum. “The people” were wrong about Robert Fulton’s steamship, Henry Ford’s horseless carriage, and countless other life enhancing values. They are also wrong about the War on Drugs.