Revisiting How Marijuana’s Legalization Fuels Organized Crime
Marijuana’s legalization has created a massive black market problem that authorities say is benefiting criminal organizations across America.
Law enforcement in other states allege 40% of America’s black market marijuana has come from legal operations in Oklahoma. Over a twelve-month period, authorities say more than 85 million pounds of marijuana in Oklahoma went unaccounted for—meaning tens of millions of pounds of marijuana grown legally may have been sold illegally on the black market in just one year.
In Maine, authorities have said there are hundreds of illegal growing operations connected to Chinese organized crime groups.
California has seized more than $1.2 billion in illegal cannabis since 2022. These operations frequently involve labor trafficking, wage theft, and other serious crimes.
Arkansas State Police routinely confiscate illegal marijuana from Oklahoma and other states.
Contrary to popular belief, legalization in other states has actually emboldened drug cartels and increased the flow of illegal drugs across the country.
That’s just one reason voters and lawmakers should think twice before doing anything that would expand marijuana in our state.
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.
