"Declared" by the
Reagan Administration, the concept dates back to the days of Prohibition (when
alcohol and
cocaine were criminalized), gained steam after alcohol was relegalized (
Reefer Madness), and began peaking with the criminalization of
LSD in the mid-
60's.
This "war" seeks to eliminate all vestiges of controlled substances by any means short of martial law. But grab all the Viagra, Prozac, and Budweiser you want.