Bipartisan senators from the United States acknowledge that the legalization of marijuana at the state level has disrupted international drug cartels’ operations. They also express concerns to the State Department about plans to ban menthol cigarette and cap nicotine content.
In a recent letter to Secretary of state Antony Blinken, Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Marco Rubio(RFL) and Bill Hagerty(RTN) stated that prohibitionist policies for certain tobacco products would benefit the illicit market. Mark Warner (D) (VA), Bob Casey D (PA), Bill Cassidy R (LA), Marco Rubio R (FL) and Bill Hagerty R (TN) all said that the prohibition of certain tobacco products will benefit the illicit market. This market is constantly evolving as a result of new regulatory policies.
Cannabis was used as an example to show how cartels can change their tactics depending on whether substances are regulated or prohibited. They argued that legalization at the state-level has decreased demand for illicit marijuana.
The senators, none of whom were vocal supporters of cannabis legalization, said that Mexican TCOs (transnational criminal organisations) have prioritized trafficking synthetic drugs like fentanyl, which are easier to manufacture and transport and produce more profit.
In a letter sent to the FDA’s head last month, Republican senators Cassidy Rubio and Hagerty made the same argument, urging the agency to reconsider its plans for a ban on menthol cigarettes and limiting nicotine content.
The bipartisan group stated in a new letter sent to Blinken that “TCOs are expanding their operations to include production and distribution for cigarettes.” “TCOs have used drug smuggling routes in order to import illegal cigarettes to the U.S. This has contributed to the substantial use of smuggled tobacco cigarettes.”
Senators sent a list to the Secretary of State asking how her department deals with illicit tobacco trafficking. The senators asked for information on the interagency efforts to combat the issue, the impact of tobacco control measures and the engagement with international partners in order to tackle the problem.
stated that “It’s clear that threat actors, from transnational organized criminal entities to terrorist groups, are using increasingly creative tools to undermine controls imposed by us and our international partners.” We appreciate the efforts of the Department of State to counter these efforts and urge further action against these threats.
A Congressional Research Service report released last year shows that the demand for illegal cannabis from Mexico continues to decline as more states open regulated markets at home.
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In 2020 , the head of the union representing U.S. Border Patrol Agents acknowledged that state-level marijuana legalization had disrupted cartel activities.
According to a report by the U.S. Sentencing Commission, marijuana trafficking cases in federal court continued to decrease in 2022. The US Sentencing Commission released a report in March.
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program (UCR) has also shown a significant decrease in the number of cannabis “arrests at state and local level as more jurisdictions implement reform. Experts have, however, raised concerns about the quality and accuracy of FBI’s data due to alleged confusion between law enforcement agencies regarding reporting requirements.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has cited similar dynamics. In its Fiscal Year 2023 Performance Budget Summary submitted to Congress in last year, DEA acknowledged the fact that the increased production of marijuana domestically by the U.S. is reducing illicit cannabis trafficking along the southern border.
In 2018, the Cato Institute released a study that found “state-level legalization of marijuana has significantly reduced marijuana smuggling.“.
World Anti-Doping Agency experts say Marijuana use violates the ‘Spirit Of Sport,’ and makes athletes unfit role models
The post Bipartisan Senates Say Marijuana legalization Disrupts Cartels in Letter Challenging Proposed Menthol Cigarette Ban first appeared on Marijuana moment.
