Oops! GOP Senators Admit Cannabis Legalization Forces Drug Cartels To Curtail Their Operations

A group of Republican senators consisting of Bill Cassidy M.D., Marco Rubio, Ted Budd, and Bill Hagerty, sent a letter to Robert Califf, commissioner of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), expressing their concerns about the expected restrictions on tobacco products.

To make their case, the lawmakers used marijuana legalization as an example of how liberal laws are actually affecting the illegal market.

What Happened: The GOP Senators argue that prohibiting the sale of menthol cigarettes and placing a maximum nicotine level on tobacco products could result in Mexican transnational criminal organizations (TCO) seizing the opportunity to bolster the black market with these products.

The DEA noted that TCO makes the “greatest criminal drug threat the United States has ever faced.” Senators further wrote that these drug cartels are in charge of illegal drugs such as cannabis, heroin, and fentanyl.

See Also: Fentanyl And Cartel Drug Trafficking - Treasury Official Heads To Mexican Border To Meet Officials

Why It Matters: While these senators are not in favor of marijuana legalization, they accidentally made a case for it, according to Marijuana Moment. In the letter, they also argued that marijuana legalization has forced Mexican TCOs to change their operations.

With cannabis becoming more easily accessible, TCOs have prioritized “trafficking fentanyl and other synthetic drugs that are cheaper to manufacture, easier to transport, and generate more profit.”

This goes in line with last year’s Congressional report, which confirmed that demand for illegal marijuana from Mexico continues to drop thanks to ongoing cannabis legalization in the U.S. and Canada.

“Seizures of imported marijuana began to decline in 2019. Authorities are projecting a continued decline in U.S. demand for Mexican marijuana,” the Congressional Research Service (CRS) report said. “This is partially due to legalized medical and nonmedical/recreational cannabis in many U.S. states and Canada, reducing its value as part of Mexican trafficking organizations’ portfolio.”

What’s Next: While the letter aimed to address only the tobacco products, it is possible that this — perhaps accidental — cannabis-related acknowledgment would also be heard.

See Also: Federal Marijuana Legalization Is Doable And Urgently Needed, Says Cannabis Coalition's New White Paper

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