I agree with you on prostitution but when it comes to drugs I feel like your views are a little idealized. If you can buy cocaine at the store, a LOT of people are going to start doing it and then will get hooked. Cocaine is by no means safe, all it takes is a couple of extra lines and you’re dead.
"Idealized". I don't disagree with you. I have thought about this a lot. I'm not suggesting full, open, commercial legalization for hard drugs. I'm saying full decriminalization, with the government tightly controlling production and distribution. As long as the price and the availability (how easy is it to get?) outperform the black market then we'd be in a much better position than we are today. It wouldn't be as easy as grabbing it off the shelf in a c-store. Users would have to go to specific facilities, possibly see a social worker, receive information about the drug, how to use it safely and legally, as well as be informed of abuse treatment options. For most people this would be enough of a barrier. The illicit drug trade brings about violence, ancillary crime, poor/dangerous quality control (fentanyl!). We can do better. Legalization wouldn't be perfect but it would be so much better than the situation we have now. I can guarantee that.