Total BS. Organized crime moves in on any market they can. Union Labor in the NE, “Waste management” nearly nation wide, trucking, gambling,alcohol, etc.
Legalizing pot will make it worse, not better. It will also vastly increase demand, which gangs and cartels will gladly fill. Prescription drugs are legal, so why are they sold illegally?
Legal pot would be worthless and pointless for cartel involvement. It’s a plant that is supposed to cost a fraction of basil on the open market. Anyone can grow enough for themselves and friends for pennies. If the threat of SWAT teams was removed from growers, pot would be WORTHLESS and less attractive to cartels than the basil business.
““Waste management” nearly nation wide, trucking, gambling,alcohol, etc.”
You can say that about ANY business where guaranteed big money and/or contracts are involved. Criminals will attempt to get in to threaten or blackmail competition. The difference with prohibition is that the government CREATES the black market by guaranteeing HUGE profit through selective enforcement AND pushing the industry underground.
A trucking company owner can go to the police and report when he is being threatened or when his competitors are doing something illegal. An illegal pot farmer cannot get help from police and all disputes in the pot industry MUST be settled with bullets.
“Prescription drugs are legal, so why are they sold illegally?”
Because of government regulation prohibiting some people from buying them. If anyone was allowed to buy safe/clean/cheap drugs at the local pharmacy (like before prohibition), why would they ever give a penny to a street dealer?