Well, I'm not sure where all that information is coming from but it appears to be based entirely on opinion. Now, I am not going to go digging through hundreds of scholarly articles to refute any of that but rely on my experience with the system and my education which is to a certain extent dealing with analysis of why crime is an issue.
First of all, I will agree. Prohibition does not work. It is readily apparent that it does not work.
However, the connection with gangs is faulty. Gangs deal in a variety of different crimes on a varying number of levels. Drug crime is a big deal sure, but it isn't as troublesome as the media might have us believe. Drugs are an issue because they degrade the capacity of society to function. If everyone is getting high few people are actually functioning and getting things done. If you've ever done drugs harder than marijuana you know exactly what I am talking about. Furthermore, if gangs were not selling drugs they would be increasing their criminal behavior to include robberies, thefts, human trafficking, prostitution and other various crimes to achieve their goals. The typical street level dealer is not dealing because he wants to make his wallet fat without working hard, they are doing so because the means available to them cannot compete. With minimum wage being at $7.90 at least in the states I believe, it is much more worthwhile for these people to sell drugs. So they do. Take away their ability to sell drugs and perhaps eventually it will permeate society enough where those who would become criminals decide to take a different path but that is not a guarantee and it will not change the career criminals. As for the interaction with actual cartels, this is usually only one person per system of dealers. One person gets the shipment and it trickles down to the numerous dealers on the streets. Quite frankly, the authorities in general are cutting deals to get those people. That is how the authorities work. They will release the lesser guys to catch the big fish. So don't be confused with how prevalent drug crimes are, at least in the states. I see more people indicted for more serious crimes on a regular basis than anything drug related. And I do see the docket of new incoming charges every morning.
Are there thousands of good, non-violent people in jails across the country right now because of drugs, I think I can agree with that statement to a certain extent. The local lock up in my work place facility is generally packed up tight. But like I said, out of those people most aren't drug related. Generally speaking, the American court system provides offenders multiple opportunities to get their act together placing them in treatment programs and half-way houses to break the addiction before actually throwing them in jail for their crime. Of course, if they don't finish that treatment program and comply with any subsequent CCS they are than disciplined with the remaining time that they would have had to serve. However, let's be realistic. Despite what we see in movies or on the television with a lot of the harder drugs come a lot of different crimes. Users trying to find money to pay or their habit. Violence over turf wars and violence amongst other users as well as officers when it becomes an issue. So quite frankly, most of these people in jail for drugs are not good people. They are people that will expend anything just to get another fix as is common with any addictive substance. (And don't confuse this with something like internet addiction which is a completely different story.) As it were, these people are not truly good people. They don't deal with the reasons why they feel they need to get high they run from them and hide behind their addiction to not deal with them.
Now, let's assume we legalize all drugs from marijuana country-wide (which I would support) to heroin, meth, and this new Krocodil nonsense, or however it is spelled. Just imagine it, from coast to coast needles and baggies would line the streets and everyone would be... well dead... It is already apparent. Even those who believe they can handle addiction gets OVI's all the time. We have a giant addiction problem, at least in the states. Cigarettes and alcohol despite the medical ramifications are not only a billion dollar industry but there is zero discrimination amongst economic or social backgrounds. Now let's take legalized drugs. Do you really think people would be able to control themselves? People can't control themselves with the legal drugs, why would illegal one's be any different. Society would grind to a halt. The lowest paying jobs, that actually allow this country to run are generally carried by those who are most susceptible to picking up a drug addiction in the first place. We would end up with a lot of dumb people as they overdose without realizing enough is enough while they are actually high,
Yes, people will do drugs despite prohibition. Yes you can see people doing drugs anywhere, and if you walk down local city streets near the closest major city to me you may hear bums calling for a "nug." But this will still happen whether you make them illegal or not. And people will not become better educated. It doesn't not follow logically or rationally that legalization comes educations. At least, there will be no more education than there already is in the states. Schools teach their students about drugs. The medical community understands drugs more than anyone would care to read about. The education about cigarettes and alcohol is ridiculously expansive and people are still involved with exploiting them. So will I start doing crack if they make it legal, no. But would it convince others to do so, absolutely.
Now, let's get down to the real motive as why the government does not legalize every drug. Let's look into marijuana first. It has been legalized for personal consumption by a couple states for personal consumption. Is this legal? Absolutely not! What people are not educated on is the fact that while the states have made it legal, it is still a crime under federal law and because the state law clashes with the federal law the federal law will win. If the feds want to swoop in and start arresting state sanctioned dealers and people who grow for other uses than medical and users they still can. And why would they do this? Because the revenue from arresting people, ticketing people, and fining them brings in far more money than taxing drugs that are sold legally. If they were to legalize these drugs on a federal level, the increase in price would have to be high enough to cover that threshold which would force people back to the local dealers to get their fix effectively destroying the reason why you may be suggesting we legalize drugs. In my area, it is a $700 find for paraphernalia, which includes things like a bowl which may have resin in it. How do you suppose the government will tackle that? And quite frankly, it won't stop the more impressive crimes that I see on a daily basis.
As it were, legalizing weed is probably a good idea. It is less dangerous than alcohol, it may be less harmful than cigarettes given the shit they put into them and realistically it is nonaddictive. However, harder drugs would do more damage than people can deal with. One line of cocaine or one pile of ecstasy does have the ability to kill you. Now sure, driving drunk can do that more likely than not you are not going to die from one cigarette or one drink. To suggest making every drug legal is ridiculous because regulating and taxing them will not replace dealers just give them a reason to get out there and make real money. The government is selling them to you at this price, well here this one is ten bucks cheaper for the same amount. And do you really want the government interacting with the cartels anymore than they already are? That's a good idea when they are taking over entire neighborhoods in this country like little Havana down south.
Now we don't need to get into a debate over credentials or experience but making each and ever drug available legal would be, based on what I know of at least the American Justice System a terrible idea that would only be detrimental to the country.