I think something that needs to happen isn't just to legalize it, that's just a small first step, the more impactful one would be to moralize it, make it normal

I think something that needs to happen isn't just to legalize it, that's just a small first step, the more impactful one would be to moralize it, make it normal and acceptable, remove all stigma around it. If you did the latter, you would change the market for it, and open up the door for non exploited workers in the field. When others give you strange looks, when families disavow you, when people demonize you, shout you names, refuse you work in other fields, look at you with disdain and pity, etc.. It's no wonder the only people who still go through with getting in the field are exploited. Why would anyone do it otherwise? Making it legal doesn't change that. And that goes for the customer base as well. The stigma is high, so who ends up being the target market? A bad crowd of people, that's what. The people who aren't affected by the stigma of seeking sex and drugs for money. And again, that doesn't change by making it legal.