Prohibition vs. Various Types of Legalization

Prohibition vs. Legalization	Prohibition	Regulation like alcohol	Regulation like caffeine	Laissez Faire
Health Risk	High Risk Concentrated for smuggling, hiding; stealth trumps quality	Smaller Risk, since competition for quality, price exist	Smaller Risk, since competition for quality, price exist	Smaller Risk, since competition for quality, price exist
Crime	High Crime Levels deterioration of freedoms, police militarized	Much Less Crime, but still some bootlegging, level depends on tax level	Almost No Crime related to production, distribution	Almost No Crime related to production, distribution
Retail Price	High	Medium/High depending on tax burden, regulatory costs imposed	Low Prices	Low Prices
Mental Health Costs	Worst since imprisonment amplifies mental health hazards	Somewhat better since help is available without admitting "crimes."	Somewhat better since help is available without admitting "crimes."	Somewhat better since help is available without admitting "crimes."

The table covers various drug policies, from most regulated (prohibition) to least regulated (laissez faire). It is intended to cover use, production and distribution of drugs by adults - it does not address regulation related to minors. Note that prohibition is clearly the worst of the policies.

Regulation like alcohol refers to a policy that regulates virtually all sales and production of a drug, with considerable 'sin-tax' taxation.

Regulation like caffeine refers to a policy that regulates mainly labeling, specifying that the drug be listed in the contents of a product (if over a certain threshold). Very high concentrations (like No-Doze caffeine pills) may be somewhat more regulated. Trace amounts are unregulated.

Laissez faire refers to a policy that with virtually no government regulation whatsoever, like broccoli or tomatoes.