I imagine organized criminals were most affected by the repeal of prohibition. If we had not done so then, nearly 100 years later, the nation would be divided by alcohol cartels as violent as we see in Mexico today. Now, 40 years after Nixon launched the war on drugs, the new cartels are not on the losing side and the violence is spreading across the border. This isn’t an issue of morality. Certainly the Prohibitionists held the moral high ground. But at what cost to society?
Of course, Mexico legalized ALL drugs several years ago, but it hasn’t stopped the criminal murderous methods of those involved in its trade.
FWIW, the drug cartels announced several years ago that they were next targeting the pharmaceutical industry in the US.
After Prohibition, the gangs in the US didn’t lose power, they simply reinforced their marketing and criminal control of their enterprises.