News Report Shows How Legalizing Marijuana Fails to Stop the Black Market

Marijuana

WXYZ-TV News in Detroit reported last week that police raided a gas station accused of selling tobacco and marijuana to minors.

Officers reportedly seized 250 marijuana joints, 17 THC vape pens, several weapons, and nearly $400,000 in cash. The story underscores how legalizing and regulating marijuana fails to stop illegal drug activity.

Nationwide, states like Michigan have legalized marijuana to varying degrees, and federal regulators have eased restrictions on the drug. But while policymakers push for more marijuana, pundits continue to raise concerns about legalization’s unintended consequences.

For example, instead of decreasing crime, marijuana’s legalization has actually emboldened drug cartels and increased the flow of illegal drugs across America.

Authorities in California seized more than 63,000 pounds of illegal marijuana from April to June of this year and made multiple raids at illegal marijuana sites over the summer.

The U.S. Department of Justice has said organized crime from Mexico and China may be making millions of dollars from marijuana grown in states like Maine.

Illegal marijuana operations often are believed to be tied to labor trafficking and violent crime — contributing to what some have called “modern day slavery on American soil.” These grow sites often use illegal pesticides that poison users and pollute the local environment.

Leaders in Arkansas have pointed out that the state sits at the heart of major drug trafficking corridors. As a result, the Arkansas State Police routinely intercept marijuana from other parts of the country that appears to be intended for the black market.

In many cases, it is possible this marijuana was grown legally but then illegally diverted to the black market.

Marijuana’s supporters in Arkansas have argued that legalization could decrease Arkansas’ crime problems, but experience shows that has not been the case in other states.

All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

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

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U.S. Sen. Cotton Praises Pregnancy Resource Center for “Doing the Lord’s Work,” Building Strong Families

Abortion, , ,

Last week, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas posted a video at the New Beginnings Pregnancy Center in Saline County.

In the video, Cotton praised the center saying, “They’re doing the Lord’s work for young moms and dads and babies, helping to turn them into strong families.”

Cotton said protecting the unborn is one of his top priorities in the U.S. Senate.

Pregnancy resource centers and other types of pregnancy help organizations play a critical role in the fight to protect innocent human life.

These centers give women real options besides abortion. They can provide women with everything from maternity clothes and baby formula to adoption referrals and parenting information — often free of charge.

Since 2022, the State of Arkansas has awarded millions of dollars in grant funding to help these charities support women and families with unplanned pregnancies.

Arkansas isn’t the only state doing this. A growing number of states provide these organizations with public funding, because they help women choose life.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Family Council outlined a three-part plan for eliminating abortion:

  • Encourage the Enforcement of Existing Pro-Life Laws
  • Work to Pass Any Additional Laws Necessary to End Abortion
  • Expand Our Efforts to Assist Pregnancy Help Organizations

Supporting pregnancy resource centers is a major part of that plan. We deeply appreciate the Arkansas Legislature, Governor Sarah Sanders, and leaders like Sen. Tom Cotton for championing the good work that these centers do.

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

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