What happens to the black market once pot is legalized in Canada?

SEATTLE, WA. (NEWS 1130) – The annual pot protest 4/20 may be over, but many people are still celebrating Ottawa’s announcement that it plans to start the pot legalization process next year, especially the suggestion that it could take a bite out of organized crime in our country.

But is that realistic?

The Drug Enforcement Administration is talking about what kind of impact legalization has had on crime in Washington State and it says the black market is alive and thriving.

DEA Staff Coordinator Russell Baer says criminal groups have been more readily involved in pot by exporting it to other states where it isn’t legal. “I think Washington last year had exports of marijuana to 42 other states within the US.”

He points out much of the drug activity in the states is controlled by Mexican cartels. “We have seen evidence that these Mexican transnational groups are still engaged in the distribution of marijuana. And of course, they’ve increased their heroin production in Mexico.”

He can’t say if the uptick in production of heroin in Mexico or of coca in Colombia has been caused by pot legalization, but points outs these groups will do what they need to make money. Baer adds the number of THC extraction labs has increased and says there have been a number of explosions.

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