Despite Legalization, Black Market Marijuana in Nevada Rakes in $242M a Year

Marijuana

Despite legalizing marijuana in 2017, Nevada continues to deal with illicit marijuana sold illegally on the black market.

According to a recent news report out of Las Vegas, illegal marijuana sales run approximately $242 million every year in the state.

Nationwide, we have seen evidence that legalizing marijuana does not weaken the black market. It actually emboldens drug cartels who grow, ship, and sell illicit marijuana on an industrial scale.

Illegal marijuana operations often are linked to labor trafficking and violent crime — contributing to what some have dubbed “modern day slavery on American soil.”

Legalizing drugs — whether it’s marijuana itself or the THC and other substances extracted from cannabis — has not worked as intended in places like California. Arkansas should think twice before making the same mistakes these states have made.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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House Committee Advances Bill to Protect Arkansans from Dangerous Drugs

Marijuana,

On Wednesday the House Rules Committee backed a good bill to protect Arkansans from dangerous drugs like THC made from industrial hemp.

THC is the main psychoactive drug in marijuana.

In 2018, Congress passed the federal Agriculture Improvement Act legalizing industrial hemp — or cannabis — that is low in THC. The goal was to let farmers grow cannabis plants for use in textiles like rope or cloth, but manufacturers have found ways to extract and refine the little bit of THC in industrial hemp. Doing this on a commercial scale means they can produce a lot of THC to infuse into drinks, candies, e-cigarettes, and other products.

In response, many state and federal policymakers have pushed back against these dangerous drugs.

For example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that federal law prohibits hemp-derived THC in food products.

Massachusetts, South Dakota, California, and many other states have successfully prohibited food, drinks, and other products that contain THC made from hemp.

In 2023, Arkansas passed Act 629 by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould) to prohibit THC made from industrial hemp.

Family Council supported that good law, and the legislature voted to pass it.

However, members of the hemp industry filed a lawsuit against Act 629, and the law has been tied up in federal court ever since.

This year Sen. Dees and Rep. Gazaway filed S.B. 533 to address the issues raised in the lawsuit over Act 629.

S.B. 533 is a good bill that would help prohibit intoxicating hemp products that contain THC and other drugs in Arkansas if Act 629 is ruled unconstitutional.

The bill effectively stops THC and other drugs made from hemp from being put into food or drinks sold in the state.

It also ensures other hemp products — like CBD oil or cosmetics — do not contain dangerous drugs or other contaminants.

On Wednesday, the House Rules Committee passed S.B. 533 after a good deal of discussion. The bill now goes to the entire Arkansas House of Representatives for a final vote.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Arkansas Senate Passes Good Bill Prohibiting Drugs Made From Hemp

Marijuana, ,

On Thursday the state senate passed a good bill to protect Arkansans from dangerous drugs — like THC — made from hemp.

THC is the main psychoactive drug in marijuana.

In 2018, Congress passed the federal Agriculture Improvement Act legalizing industrial hemp — or cannabis — that is low in THC. The goal was to let farmers grow cannabis plants for use in textiles like rope or cloth, but manufacturers have found ways to extract and refine the little bit of THC in industrial hemp. Doing this on a commercial scale means they can produce a lot of THC to infuse into drinks, candies, e-cigarettes, and other products.

In response, many state and federal policymakers have pushed back against these dangerous drugs.

For example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that federal law prohibits hemp-derived THC in food products.

Massachusetts, South Dakota, California, and many other states have successfully prohibited food, drinks, and other products that contain THC made from hemp.

In 2023, Arkansas passed Act 629 by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould) to prohibit THC made from industrial hemp.

Family Council supported that good law, and the legislature voted to pass it.

However, members of the hemp industry filed a lawsuit against Act 629, and the law has been tied up in federal court ever since.

This year Sen. Dees and Rep. Gazaway filed S.B. 533 to address the issues raised in the lawsuit over Act 629.

S.B. 533 is a good bill that would help prohibit intoxicating hemp products that contain THC and other drugs in Arkansas.

The bill effectively stops THC and other drugs made from hemp from being put into food or drinks sold in the state.

It also contains provisions to ensure other hemp products — like CBD oil or cosmetics — do not contain dangerous drugs or other contaminants.

On Thursday, the Arkansas Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass S.B. 533. The bill now goes to the Arkansas House of Representatives.

The Following Senators Voted For S.B. 533

  • J. Boyd
  • Caldwell
  • A. Clark
  • Crowell
  • B. Davis
  • Dees
  • J. Dismang
  • J. English
  • Flippo
  • Gilmore
  • K. Hammer
  • Hester
  • Hickey
  • Hill
  • Irvin
  • B. Johnson
  • M. Johnson
  • F. Love
  • R. Murdock
  • J. Payton
  • J. Petty
  • Rice
  • J. Scott
  • Stone
  • G. Stubblefield
  • D. Sullivan

The Following Senators Voted “Present”

  • J. Bryant
  • J. Dotson
  • G. Leding
  • M. McKee
  • C. Penzo
  • C. Tucker

The Following Senators Were Excused From Voting

  • S. Flowers
  • D. Wallace

The Following Senator Did Not Vote

  • B. King

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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