Given that I am a man who believes in a literal Hell, you might be surprised to know I tend to agree with your legalization conclusion and disagree with, "the first step on the road to hell." being whatever taste one first tastes. I'm a firm believer that first step is lodged in ones heart, not some substance one decides to ruin oneself with. And frankly, not all people ruin themselves.

Many multiple millions function quite nicely as addicts of one sort or another including heroin addicts. My Mrs can't live without her fags. It's just that the powers that be have decided coffee and cigarettes are more beneficial to society than not(at least for now:). [Econ 101, addictive substances have greater price flexibility so tobacco settlements actually make for a wonderfully dressed up means for creating a wider tax revenue stream without the backlash. Human stupidity(mine included) is hilarious on some level or other ain't it? lol] Hell, the Brit manufacturers, after discovering the benefits of coffee in the new world(sic), originally plied their workers with coffee for free, as it made for more attentive workers and improved attendance too if I recall correct.

But again, if it were legal, say as opium and cocaine were a century ago, there wouldn't be anybody to put in private prisons, and of course all the support personnel etc, at taxpayer expense. The latter being an utter drain on any economy, as they produce so little anybody would pay for willingly, and thus the coercion.

And upon further reflection PK, I prolly should have said, small time dealers, which is what I was, as your point makes perfect sense when I recall the sudden crop of hangers-on who were leaning on me to use some sort of laxative from Canada(as it'd already been outlawed in the states, an idea which thoroughly grossed me out, as was already a back to nature type way back then MB), so I could give them a free toot. It was actually a temporary sideline, my specialty was clean full weight ounces of herb for adult usage only. Also an oddity in my district, and thus a very popular minimal hassle seller(no stems, no seeds dadeedee ...). Pot heads were better at planning ahead, and rarely woke us in the wee hours for a bit more kick.

peaceably