Because it's been deemed that to stick with the "status quo" is the "way to go". Our society says that alcohol is the "drug of choice" - one only has to look at an AA meeting to dispute that one. Seriously, it is the interaction of politics, economics and medicine that keeps this the way it is. In NYState controlled substances must be written in TRIPLICATE prescriptions - and the state charges an MD $1.00 for each prescription - makes for lots of jobs in the Capitol - Albany - filing the state copies - lots of employment for DEA officers to come around to the local pharmacies and bust their chops - come on guys - wake up and smell the coffee. Why does Jeb Bush's daughter get rehab for forging Xanex Rx's and some other poor guy in FL is sentenced to 25 years in jail - why does Rush Limbaugh get rehab when anyone else would have been locked up and had the key thrown away - why is Martha Stewart probably going to jail when Ken Lay is out there free as a bird on some golf course with his buddies figuring out how to rip zillions out of some other group of poor souls' 401K. The American society is a very hypocritacal one and has a HUGE double standard - and it's guaranteed to line the pockets of those who have the power and don't want to relinquish it.