Are they high on pot alone or are they also drunk or on other harder drugs? I don't watch those kind of shows much because they tend to show police violating people's rights in a very positive light which I think is intended to break down perceptions of what is legal and what is not. But the episodes I have seen show mostly violent drunks, crack heads, meth heads, hookers and gang bangers.
Alcohol, IMHO, is the culprit most of the time. That what was I was referring to in my post. Rage, violence, driving a car fast, starting a fight etc is what happens during the "lowered barriers" period of drinking (the period before one passes out, according to another poster). As far as I know, you just don't see those kind of behaviors with pot.
Re: the TV show COPS. I agree with your assessment, tho I admit to watching with Hubby. He's a recovering/recovered alcoholic (8 yrs this past Dec:) and he enjoys poking fun at the way drunks act!