Legalization of narcotics most likely will not happen in the USA for a few reasons. First, Big Pharm is big money. Besides the oil companies, no one has a bigger profit margin. People believe we went into Afghanistan for oil and to save the Women from the Taliban, but the poppies are very protected by US interests as much as the oil.
The second reason I am sure everybody knows. The War on Drugs has created so many para-military Corporations on every level that generates huge profits from the illegal drug war.
Pot is one thing, but narcotics ... that is a one huge other ball game with too much interest (profits) in too many areas to be legalized.
Legalization seems to work fine in some countries just fine. AAS are seemingly legal in England and I could see the same situation working here. But nobody is pushing it, so it won't happen. I am not certain how England decided to go that way. When I have some free time (unless someone already has the answer) I will delve into the specifics and see if there is any parallels here.