I’m willing to be convinced, but I wish the arguments of those in favour were more precise. From the Economist:

Legalisation would not only drive away the gangsters

No it won’t, and not only because

Legalisation would not drive gangsters completely out of drugs; as with alcohol and cigarettes, there would be taxes to avoid and rules to subvert.

Sure, it will greatly hurt their finances[1], but they will simply try to increase their other criminal activities to compensate. The “war on major criminal gangs” will continue, probably forever.

Post-tax prices should be set at a level that would strike a balance between damping down use on the one hand,

In the legalisation camp, some argue for taxing and selling it, some for giving it on prescription to addicts[2]. Which is it? Surely not both, where people could buy it for a while until they can claim they are addicts, and then get it free on the NHS?[3]

… and discouraging a black market and the desperate acts of theft and prostitution to which addicts now resort to feed their habits.

I have sympathy for those in prostitution, as they usually end up doing far more harm to themselves than anyone else. Zero sympathy for the thieves. These are not desperate acts they resort to, they are crimes against innocent people they freely choose to commit.

Drugs are not really the problem. Failing to hold people responsible for their actions is.

[1] They could always become the newly legit suppliers.
[2] Strange how we don’t prescribe whiskey to alcoholics.
[3] Never gone for any of these drugs personally. I am however addicted to fillet steaks. Can I get help for this on the NHS?