Everyone wants whatever type of government to push the issues they care about. Dems want small government when it comes to marijuana legalization, but also the Federal government should set education curriculum across the entire country or enforce country wide mask mandates. GOP wants states to be able to ban abortions and teach creationism, but chafes at the idea that states could legalize marijuana unilaterally.
"Dems want small government when it comes to marijuana legalization..."
This isn't really true. The legalization involves local and state regulation and taxes. Sure, the law is more lenient in that one can legally sell and buy the product, but it comes with substantially more regulation (you now need a department to do inspections audits etc).
"chafes at the idea that states could legalize marijuana unilaterally"
Technically they can't legalize it. They can do so at the state level, but it can still be illegal at the federal level. The thing is, the feds don't have the resources to enforce all the laws they make.
I do agree that most political parties and figures can be hypocritical.
As a Democrat I want big government when it comes to marijuana. Why shouldn’t we have the FDA test cannabis products for impurities, set labeling standards, check that facilities that process it are safe, and that labor laws are abided?
It's politics, everyone is a hypocrite.