Yeah. The way WA state has done it we legitimize otherwise illegal activity, plus the added bonus of maintaining the jack-boot goon squads (maybe even add to them) to maintain a war on ‘unauthorized cultivation’.
I’m all for decriminalization. That way it removes incentive and removes a cash stream from law enforcement. What WA has done, does neither.
I only say what I say because I remember when gang bangers and off duty cops would “roll” (rob) crack houses in Michigan back in the 80’s and early 90’s. The crack dealers wised up, very heavily arming themselves. A pot dispensary with a lot of cash, and a lot of drugs, makes for a big fat target for the enterprising criminal elements, including the cartels. In this case, the government would be outmanned and outgunned; see mexico as an example.