Folks.. when governments "ban" something  that doesn't mean they want that something to go away. That simply means that they want to make more law abiding citizens into criminals. That's what feeds the beast.  

 Do you mean government making more law abiding citizens criminal gives them more power? Not sure I understand the usage of "feeds the beast" in this context? 

 Literally pays their salaries.  When I day "they" I mean lawyers, judges, cops, county clerks... ect.