CA Police Continue to Raid Illegal Marijuana Stores
News reports once again highlight how authorities in California recently raided several marijuana stores operating illegally in the state.
NBC says, “Even in states where cannabis is legal, a massive black market is growing, with many of these operations run by organized crime rings.”
Over the past decade we have seen how legalization has actually emboldened drug cartels and increased the flow of illegal marijuana across America.
Last year, California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force seized 154,000 pounds of illegal marijuana and destroyed some 236,000 illegal marijuana plants.
This month, California shut down “a large-scale illegal indoor cannabis cultivation site located within 100 feet of a school.” Authorities seized more than two and a half tons of illegal marijuana at that location.
Illegal marijuana sales in Nevada reportedly run upwards of $242 million every year in the state.
Illegal marijuana operations often are believed to be tied to labor trafficking and violent crime — contributing to what some have dubbed “modern day slavery on American soil.”
In many states, Chinese organized crime dominates black market marijuana.
The U.S. Department of Justice says Chinese drug cartels may be making millions of dollars from illegal marijuana in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, and elsewhere.
Authorities in Arkansas regularly seize illegal marijuana from states that have legalized the drug.
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 mistake these states have made.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
Federal Proposal Would Close Illegal Hemp Loophole
A new proposal reportedly would close the federal loophole responsible for the expansion of dangerous hemp products.
In 2018, Congress passed the federal Agriculture Improvement Act to let farmers grow cannabis plants low in THC for use in textiles like hemp rope or cloth.
THC is the main psychoactive substance in marijuana, and health experts warn the drug poses serious risks.
Instead of growing hemp for textiles, manufacturers have found ways to extract and refine the little bit of THC in the plants. Doing this on a commercial scale means they can produce a lot of THC to infuse into drinks, candies, e-cigarettes, and other products.
Last week a U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee advanced a spending bill that would tighten down on these dangerous products. The legislation is the first meaningful restriction on hemp products in Congress in nearly a decade.
As we have pointed out, drinks with as much THC as recreational marijuana products have raised serious public health and safety concerns.
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.
This year, multiple bills legalizing THC-infused drinks were filed at the Arkansas Legislature. Fortunately, none of those bad bills passed, and lawmakers enacted good legislation to help further protect Arkansans from these drugs.
We appreciate Arkansas’ policymakers taking this issue seriously, and we hope Congress will take action to close the loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill and restrict these dangerous drugs.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.