Does the government have the authority (not power) to make drugs illegal?

Yes, legislatures have the power to make laws.

What Jespah said. Why wouldn't a law-making body have the power to make laws?

But let me just play the devil's advocate for a second here.

I suppose you could try to make a case before the US Supreme Court that all anti-drug legislation violates the citizen's constitutional right to privacy. The case could be presented that neither the Congress of the US nor state legislatures have the right to interfere in a person's making a life-style choice. (Anti-abortion laws were toppled on much the same basis.)

I don't think you'd get very far arguing in this vein, but it's a possible start.

im done with this politcal/logical/common sense approach.

humans are ******* dumb. period. wow thats the answer to every legal/political question ive ever raised.

how about that? huh...

that's also the answer to every question about drug abuse

do you consider occasional use abuse?

Generally, no, I don't (unless the drug is extremely dangerous).

By the way, the question of whether any government's authority is legitimate is determined by citizens. If enough citizens believe that government is overstepping with a regulation or regulations, there are ways to change that.

Quick lesson on the 3 branches of government.
Legislature- (congress= senate & house of reps) make laws
Executive- (President, Vice President, agencies like law enforcement) enforce laws
Judicial- (court system) interprets laws

At a minimum, all legislative acts must be rationally related to a legitimate government interest.