The book distinguishes legal drugs like tobacco, alcohol, and tranquilizers from the illegal drugs. Caballero emphasizes that just as the prohibition of alcohol in the United States in the 1920's did not achieve its goals, the criminal justice approach toward drugs today is unsuccessful. He also notes that the concern over drugs in France has resulted in changes in the penal code that are so tough that they would have provoked an outcry if applied to white-collar crime. Caballero is cautious regarding legislation that is too tolerant. Instead, he supports the theory of "passive commerce," in which the regulations regarding marijuana would be similar to those for alcohol and tobacco and would be strengthened. Thus, all drugs would be subject to a national monopoly of production, importation, and distribution, and advertising would be prohibited. This form of social control would try to reconcile individual liberty with the defense of society. Caballero also argues that the current regulations are a form of economic discrimination in that drugs like tobacco and alcohol, which are produced in affluent nations, are tolerated, while those produced in poor nations are subject to unrelenting prohibition.