Prohibition also created a huge black market demand for alcohol and directly led to a new era in organized crime. In my opinion that would make alcohol prohibition a failure.
"There is strong arugment for substance control policy being a states rights issue. Although, I don't agree with it, I respect such reasonable and sensible logic."
Why shouldn't legalization be a states' rights issue? A whole host of other criminal justice issues are left to the states so why not this one? The only constitutional argument that can possibly be made for any federal drug law is under the purview of foreign commerce. Under the Constitution, the federal government has every right to regulate the importation of drugs from foreign countries. However, a marijuana plant grown in the backyard would strictly be a state issue.
Let's be careful with using the "It's for the children" argument popularized by the left. If we really wanted to protect the children we would push for a ban on fatty foods, require everyone to wear non-flammable padded clothing, and set a national speed limit of 10 mph. Think of all the lives that could be saved! Of course, that would never fly. An abuse of constitutional boundaries is an abuse of constitutional boundaries, whether we are talking about drugs, food, clothing or speed limits.
This has absolutely nothing to do with the "left". This has everything to do with the future of America's children. Fatty foods and illicit drugs have nothing in common and to make such a link, shows a shallow understanding of the serious issue of drug abuse in America.