I have been a libertarian, on this subject, since my late teens / early twenties. I firmly believe that all "controlled substances" should be legally sold. It wasn't until Franklin D (the "D" stands for "Demonspawn) Roosevelt that any "drug" was illegal. You could walk into apothecaries and general stores, and walk out with opiates. Most pharmacies had medical grade cocaine, in stock .... multiple kilograms of such.

At that time, what criminal activities were linked to drugs? What, in population adjusted terms, were they, compared to today?

Sell it .. and tax it all, at the same level as cigarettes. In this state, looking at "bargain brands", over two thirds of the price is in local, state, and federal taxes. In NYNY, taxes account for close to ninety percent of the retail pricing.

And, people squeal about 15-20 percent rates, on marijuana, where sales are legal and regulated.

Legalize and tax ... I'm making book and giving some pretty hefty odds that overdose deaths plummet and drug related crime becomes a thing of the past.