And alcohol and tobacco manufacturers are death merchants.
The main reason Prohibition didn't work was because corrupt government officials were in on the illegal activity. The Kennedys got their money from bootlegging. Al Capone was protected by Chicago city hall. The mayor was good friends with him. Prohibition failed because the rich and powerful didn't want it to succeed. As a result we lose as many people to alcohol every decade as we lost in WWII. I don't think we should make the same mistake again with dope.