According to a study by a respected Mexican Think Tank, the legalization of recreational marijuana, which we will hopefully see after next week, could reduce cartel profits by as much as 30%.

This study about the effect of US marijuana legalization was conducted by the Mexican Competitiveness Institute, and is titled “If Our Neighbors Legalize”.

According to the study, the cartels stand to see a loss of $1.425 billion if Colorado legalizes, $1.372 billion if Washington approves the ballot measure, and $1.839 billion if Oregon votes yes. The study estimates that cartels receive $6 billion annually from smuggling operations.

The theory here is that, in addition to ruining the market for the cartels in the state that legalizes it, the legally-produced marijuana would make its way (illegally) to the other states at low prices. This would ruin the market nation-wide for Mexican schwag. Opponents of legalization insist that this is a reason states should not legalize marijuana. I think it’s just a good reason for other states to legalize and regulate it.

There is no getting rid of the demand for marijuana, no matter how badly some people may want to.

Legalization allows county and city governments to decide if, where, when and even how marijuana is produced, marketed and distributed. Even if you don’t like marijuana, there is no denying that legalization and regulation is a better system than prohibition.

Under legalization, government and businesses can profit, rather than cartels. Not to mention the amount of people that will now be able to make a meaningful contribution to society, since they will no longer be branded criminals for choosing to use a plant as an intoxicant or medicine.

Support Legalization, Wherever You Live!