How do the opium wars relate to legalizing marijuana today?

I believe there is a similarity between the topics - I have been looking for an answer as well. Legalizing opium trade was the reason for war during that period, but now, we see that the "war" for marijuana legalization is being carried out by those who back then were opposing it (non governmental organizations) -- so there's a switch in actors: now the governments are opposing it (or acting like it) and NGOs are for it.

I found out that in an U.N. report it says marijuana cultivation remains concentrated in North America, where the largest producers are Mexico and the United States, but it is being largely cultivated in South America as well and it has a huge positive economic impact for these countries.

So we can witness a new colonization trend since more and more academic/ scientific studies underline the "benefits" (similar to the whitewash Royal Commission on Opium Report) of this drug and are pushing it more and more as a common legal drug similar to tobacco, alcohol and coffee.

Yet, the promotion for the use of marijuana can be seen as the new way to control the aggression levels and fertility in men (read: nations), since it lowers men's testosterone levels and sperm count and quality, thus contributing to the "overpopulation theory conspiracy".

Moreover, we can see "marijuana" as a gateway drug, since it's use may make someone more likely to try cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and other "hard" drugs - and since the opium is still a HUGE BUSINESS and still cultivated/ harvested in India, Arab Countries, Africa and South and Central America.

Taking into consideration the countries it is being cultivated and the countries that influence these countries, we can say we are witnessing a World Opium War, where smaller and less developed countries are being the victims, as the "markets" for it.

Maybe you can share your opinion also and who knows what evidence might come out of it.

Thanks!