Mexican Drug Traffickers Earn 70% less Following the Legalisation of Cannabis in the United States

Not long ago, Mexico was one of the main providers of the cannabis that crossed the border to reach American users. However, with progressive legalisation in places within the U.S. such as Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska, things have changed considerably. Those that previously earned a living by selling the plant on the black market are now losing out .

It has only been 3 years since Colorado gave the green light for legalisation. However, according to the latest data, the Mexican drug traffickers, that previously contributed two thirds of marijuana to their neighbouring country by taking advantage of the work of modest producers, have seen a sharp reduction of up to 70% in their earnings.

While they previously received around 100 dollars (about 92 euros) per kilogram of the plant that they put on the market, now they only obtain 30 dollars (27 euros) for the same quantity. This amounts to a victory for Americans that are currently employed in cannabis related jobs (those created by legalisation). It also means that a large percentage of users have good quality products within reach. The situation is no longer like before, with products of dubious provenance and creation.

This example once again shows that regulation and political liberalisation are more necessary than ever. All of the income that the criminal gangs are losing mostly ends up in the state coffers. Countries become richer on an economic level and providing a better quality of life to their citizens, who have the power to decide if they want to consume or not.