First of all, it would have cut into too many big businesses. Booze, fibers, timber, medicines, whole lot of big bu$ine$$e$. Second, the people who used it were mostly minorities. Third, it is basically undetectable without a lab test. Until the cops get a pot sobriety test that works in the field (like a breathalizer) they can't risk high drivers (no matter that pot smoking drivers have a good record of staying out of accidents). Fourth, pot's too easy. The government would have a tough time getting their cut (taxes). Anyone able to keep a plant watered in their back yard can grow pot. No way they could find them all to tax. Lastly, is the "sin factor". You can't have fun without "paying for it"! Sex= VD, Aids and pregnancy. Booze= hangovers, cirrosis of the liver and the "shakes". Meth= meth mouth, addiction, rapid aging. Driving fast= tickets, accidents and using up gas at a high rate. All "fun" things have to be "paid" for with the risk of bad consequences. Pot is the exception, no hangover, no addiction, in fact, it's good for a lot of medical conditions and it's FUN. Our Puritan mindset government just can't allow us to have "free fun". So of course, we have to have it illegal and a jailable offense. Fun without bad consequences, is unthinkable.