Same Struggles, Different Substance: What Alcohol Can Teach Us About Cannabis Regulation
Cannabis and Alcohol are very different, but we are repeating history with our mistakes?
When alcohol was re-legalized in 1933, it didn’t solve every problem overnight. It simply moved the conversation—from prohibition to regulation. And today, as we try to figure out the best path forward for cannabis, there’s a lot we can learn from that transition. Because, in many ways, we’re following the same road—and it’s not necessarily leading us to the outcomes we want.
After the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition, the U.S. left it up to the states to create their own rules around alcohol. Some allowed it with restrictions, others remained dry for years. This led to a patchwork of regulations that created confusion and uneven enforcement—very similar to the state-by-state approach we’re seeing with cannabis right now.
And just like back then, the black market didn’t disappear. Legal alcohol was taxed and regulated, which made bootlegging profitable for those willing to take the risk. The same dynamic exists today in cannabis. High taxes, overregulation, and limited access in some areas allow the unregulated market to continue thriving—often undercutting legal businesses trying to stay compliant.
Concerns about youth access were front and center then too—and still are now. Even today, minors get alcohol. In some states, it’s legal for underage individuals to drink alcohol if a parent or guardian provides it or is present. Regulation doesn’t automatically prevent youth access—it simply creates a framework for accountability and responsibility. And that’s the conversation we’re still having with cannabis, especially with edibles and vape products.
Another pattern we’ve seen is industry consolidation. After alcohol was legalized, larger companies with more resources quickly took over distribution and retail. Many smaller, local producers were pushed out. We're now seeing something similar in cannabis, with well-funded multi-state operators expanding into markets where local businesses built the foundation.
These aren’t just historical footnotes—they're warning signs.
The point of making these comparisons isn’t to say cannabis and alcohol are the same. They’re not. But the way we approach regulation, enforcement, and public policy often follows similar patterns. If we’re not careful, we risk repeating the same mistakes—favoring large corporate interests, overlooking community impact, and failing to create systems that work for everyone.
There’s still time to choose a better path for cannabis—one informed by history, grounded in equity, and driven by public health and safety, not just revenue.
We’ve been here before. Let’s not act like we haven’t.
