How Marijuana Legalization in Some States is Pushing Out Drug Dealers
The marijuana legalization in some states is pushing out illegal drug dealers, making the drug usage safer and more regulated.
So far in the United States, 33 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized marijuana for medicinal use. Eleven states have also legalized it for recreational use.
A lot of benefits have come from legalizing marijuana. One of the best, those, is that the black market has shrunk and there are fewer illegal drug dealers working in many of these states.
Read on to learn more about one of the most positive effects of marijuana legalization.
Less Business
The most obvious effect of the legalization of marijuana is the fact that it has taken away business from illegal drug dealers.
People who previously purchased marijuana from drug dealers can now go directly to a dispensary and purchase products for themselves without violating the law.
Even back before cannabis legalization had spread throughout the country, many drug dealers predicted that they were going to lose customers as a result of the new laws.
That prediction seems to be coming true for a lot of dealers.
A Decrease in Teen Usage
The legalization of marijuana has also contributed to a decrease in recreational teen usage.
Fewer teens are using marijuana than have in the past. This is likely due to the age restrictions put in place by dispensaries.
These limits, combined with fewer illegal drug dealers working in states where marijuana is legal, make it difficult for teens to get their hands on it.
Safety and Quality
With so many dispensaries and dispensary delivery services opening up throughout the country, more people who are using marijuana are using products that are safer and of a higher quality.
When people were buying marijuana on the black market, they had little-to-no control over what they’d get. They also had no idea of knowing whether or not they were actually getting what their dealer said they were getting.
Now, marijuana users are able to buy specific strains depending on their needs, and they’re less likely to consume dangerous or tainted products.
Combating the Black Market
The black market still exists. It’s not thriving the way it once was, but it’s still around and likely always will be.
It can be combated, though, if the government takes the correct actions moving forward. This includes competitive pricing, providing a product of superior quality, and making sure it is easily available throughout states where marijuana has been legalized.
The easier it is for people to access, the less likely they are to turn to the black market.
Learn More About Marijuana Legalization
As you can see, there’s been a lot of good that’s come from marijuana legalization in the United States.
If you’ve been on the fence about legalization for medicinal or recreational purposes, the information in this article may have changed your mind.
Do you want to learn more about marijuana legalization before you make a decision about where you stand on the issue? If so, be sure to check out some of the other articles on our site.
The local and national news section both are updated regularly. They also contain lots of informative articles that will help you form a more well-rounded opinion on this issue.