Reefer has to be illegal because it mellows most folks and doesn't create the necessary social disruption requiring state intervention for our own good, that alcohol can be counted on for.

Leaving the drunk lying in the street to suffer the resulting community derision just didn't create enough revenue enhancement.

Government is described as a "necessary evil" for a reason. Beyond a certain scope, "government" is necessarily evil(as it takes on a life of its own) even though its members in your neighborhood are fine folks in our estimation.

For example, a while back, I had a lovely conversation with a former deputy director of our favorite spook organization(there are lotsa perks to what we do) and you've never met someone so open and approachable, though I thought it best to avoid the plame question. Does magic tricks too. Seriously! Later in the day there were similar extended conversations with a General and a variety of other security experts attesting to the D-D's abilities, including the tearing up the newspaper bit.

It's that compartmentalization element. Most are satisfied they're doing a good and necessary job. And suddenly, IT'S ALIVE. LOL ...

To this day, if I had my druthers between being trapped with dope smokers or drunks, I'll take the smokers(there's always a chance of distracting them when you cover your ears to their exuberant best shit/pipe stories).

beyond contempt