I agree. Keeping the sale illegal perpetuates the terribleness of drug gang. But it’s a popular take because it removes state responsibility for regulating recreational use and abuse.

Also, however, it is possible to find new ways. For example in a Denmark sex work is legal, but profiting off of sex work is not. Which on the surface makes no sense (a sex worker cannot rent a hotel room for example). As a result women run old fashioned brothels that are employee owned coops.

A partial legalisation could breed some similar non capitalist innovations.