As others have already stated, racism and conservative nonsense is the answer.
But I also think drinks are part of food culture in a way other drugs aren’t - generally when I have a drink I try to stop well short of intoxication, I want it as part of a meal. And smoking anything is bad for you - my ex wrecked his teeth smoking pot. I do certainly think it should be widely legal, and people always have and always will want mind altering substances, they need to be allowed and the harm managed as medical/social not by prohibition but it’s not like pot is absolutely benign even if it is way less likely to produce violence.
As others have already stated, racism and conservative nonsense is the answer.
But I also think drinks are part of food culture in a way other drugs aren’t - generally when I have a drink I try to stop well short of intoxication, I want it as part of a meal. And smoking anything is bad for you - my ex wrecked his teeth smoking pot. I do certainly think it should be widely legal, and people always have and always will want mind altering substances, they need to be allowed and the harm managed as medical/social not by prohibition but it’s not like pot is absolutely benign even if it is way less likely to produce violence.