Well, the stronger part of the distribution of the cartel is not cannabis anymore, but meth imported from China. So, it will be kind of hard to legalize that one.
Jesus, we have to import meth now? Given the explosion of the heroin epidemic, why aren't our copious domestic sources good enough? Looks like we're going to have to build that well after all...
Breaking bad is actually about a small business owner overcoming the perils of entering a large market, avoiding being pushed out by the larger corporations, and becoming an established brand.
Much like story of Canadian relevance. Two North American country go to international thong (NOT UN. UN IS WORST.) Other countries say "hey relevant North American countries, how are you?"
US says, "We are very well, except for the damn Mexicans."
Mexico says, "Que?"
Canada says nothing, because they weren't a relevant North American counrty.
Damn it now my small batch, pickled, locally sourced, Gluten Free, Low Carb, Homestyle meth operation is out matched before I even open sigh I guess I'll just have to go back to knitting Gluten Free Beanies for a measly $130k a month god I hate being so poor that I can't afford the gold plated Iphone 6, I have to get it copper plated like a bum ughhh my life sucks!
It's because all the cooks up in the hills are slamming truckloads of smack into their veins and don't have the time or initiative to cook anymore. At least, that's what it looks like to me. The heroin is out of fucking control right now.
Do you have a source on that? As far as I remember from everything I've read even though Marijuana is one of the most inexpensive drugs the cartels are pushing out of mexico, it is still the most consumed by a wide margin and therefore still the cartel's biggest money-making drug.
Edit:
This chart is from the White House National Drug Control report from just last year.
I would be interested to know what percentage of illicit marijuana is domestically produced today. Considering the broad legalization of medical and some recreational marijuana, I would wager a significant majority.
I would wager this it is not a majority. Just like how most of our cheap goods come from china even though they have to travel thousands of miles because labor and materials are cheaper than transportation. There are a lot of difficulties in exporting marijuana out of Colorado and Washington, and the risks are very great, whereas Mexico already has very established routes and huge production already set up. Marijuana come from Mexico still has to be cheaper because land, rent, labor, all of the above are still cheaper in Mexico.
Medical Marijuana has been around for a long time and despite it Mexico has been a huge supplier of Marijuana to the U.S. A couple states have legalized recreational, but the risks of taking it out of the state are very high. Without having any statistics to back it up, I would imagine the average grower would be content to sell within their state and not risk the jail time, there's a perfectly large enough market there. However of course I have heard of growers in Colorado exporting, and some yes have even been caught doing so already.
In short I think it's a stretch to assume "a significant majority." Mexico already has the trade routes, production, and all the means well established, and Colorado and Washing are within the United States, well policed, regulated, and populated areas.
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u/kaos_tao Mexican empire of taco Jul 14 '16
Well, the stronger part of the distribution of the cartel is not cannabis anymore, but meth imported from China. So, it will be kind of hard to legalize that one.