I believe that this is the real reason the "War on Drugs" and the "War(s) in the Middle East" are constantly fought yet nothing changes: There is far too much money to be made in their continuation.
Honestly, do you think global drug and arm sales continue without governments getting involved and eventually controlling these lucrative markets?
global drug and arm sales .... without gubmit programs, would sooner or later evolve into self-elimination. Sort of like the problem of the dog that chases cars.