> The only possible explanation I see is heavy lobbying from big pharma groups or wine interests.
More likely law enforcement.
The criminalization of drugs provides an endless supply of criminals of various levels (from the drug production/distribution itself to weapons and violence used to defend the illegal operation) and thus generates endless amounts of work for all kinds of people involved in law enforcement, from police to prisons to various subcontractors providing goods/services used by the aforementioned entities.
Most of those are not criminals because they want to hurt people or break the law on purpose and thus will no longer be criminals when drugs are legalized (instead of switching to another crime to remain a criminal). Thus, the second it's legalized, the "demand" for law enforcement services drops dramatically, and the crimes that do remain will require more effort to solve than your typical drug case.
More likely law enforcement.
The criminalization of drugs provides an endless supply of criminals of various levels (from the drug production/distribution itself to weapons and violence used to defend the illegal operation) and thus generates endless amounts of work for all kinds of people involved in law enforcement, from police to prisons to various subcontractors providing goods/services used by the aforementioned entities.
Most of those are not criminals because they want to hurt people or break the law on purpose and thus will no longer be criminals when drugs are legalized (instead of switching to another crime to remain a criminal). Thus, the second it's legalized, the "demand" for law enforcement services drops dramatically, and the crimes that do remain will require more effort to solve than your typical drug case.