Prohibition would only work for goods or services for which there was absolutely no demand. Otherwise, a black market is created, large amounts of illegal income are generated and people are prone to resort to violence to protect their stake in the business.

Having said that, the “war on drugs” has also been lucrative for many people and organizations who will fight all attempts to implement rational drug policy. Additionally, the issue has been a convenient straw man for politicians, since they do not fear alienating recreational drug users who to date have not constituted a reliable voting bloc.