Special business interests commonly use governmental power to stifle competition. Nevertheless, you really couldn’t make this example up (H/T Jeff Miron):

The folks who deliver beer and other beverages to liquor stores have joined the fight against legalizing marijuana in California.

On Sept. 7, the California Beer & Beverage Distributors gave $10,000 to a committee opposing Proposition 19, the measure that would change state law to legalize pot and allow it to be taxed and regulated. [.  .  .]

“Unless the beer distributors in California have suddenly developed a philosophical opposition to the use of intoxicating substances, the motivation behind this contribution is clear,” Steve Fox, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project, said in statement.

“Plain and simple, the alcohol industry is trying to kill the competition. Their mission is to drive people to drink.”

Amazingly, the alcoholic beverage distributors don’t realize that one of the unintended consequences of the misguided drug prohibition policy is that illegal drugs are often much less expensive than legal alcoholic beverages.