Most likely hardlines in power. Much like early South Korea and Taiwan, who's people had fortunately broken out of this trap.
https://medium.com/@alexjanmaat2/recreational-drugs-in-korea...
In Taiwan today, manufacturing, selling, or transporting Cocaine is a mandatory life (or death) sentence:
https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=C00000...