That's what I saw.
I would want to prevent it by the Good Book or by the law book or whatever way I could. Illegalizing it didn't seem to stop it, but legalizing it sure ain't gonna help.
To open the door and say nothing else amounts to a nod, wink. That is granted. And it’s what Colorado, California, etc. are beginning to do.
But to reveal God to the people and say okay, we aren’t going to give you any more expensive, leaky band-aids for your folly, you now have a Doctor who will give you total healing... that’s QUITE a different story.
God’s alive. We need churches that will act that way.
The solution to substance abuse does not lie with the government; what the government can do is end the ban that (as you noted) doesn't achieve its putative objective - but does enrich criminals.
Here in Washington State where a few recreational pot stores will open next month, it appears that state-taxed sales will be priced much higher than street drug sales. I think chronic users will stick with their illicit sources and be entirely unaffected by the new law. Sales and possession to/by youth, growing, public smoking/vaping and possession of more than one ounce of dried product per living unit are still illegal.