If legal, the dealers would have competition from legitimate business. Competition always lowers the price. Thugs and gangs only exist because they are willing to break the law. That is also why the price is high. Remove that and prices will go down and there will be many more sources.
Even now drugs are so easily available to those who want them that it is doubtful that legalization would mean a significant increase in users.
I’m not arguing the eceonomics of the drug trade. I don’t agree with the assertion that by legalizing marijuana the power of the cartels and the violence they perpterate will simply vanish.
The assumption that is being made here is that violent business organizations that are able to corrupt and influence two countries, one being a superpower, can not ever make a profit doing anything other than selling illegal marijuana.
I disagree with that assumption.