Now that more states allow recreational weed, how should bordering states deal with the increased flow of the drug?
Oregon just joined Colorado, Washington state, Alaska, and DC as American jurisdictions which allow recreational marijuana.
In Colorado we've already seen "marijuana tourism," and this will only increase as the more states legalize the drug.
How should these bordering states handle the increased flow of drugs? Should the taxpayers of those border states cover the cost? Or should the states where weed is legal cover the cost?
Brian B2015-07-01T12:04:22Z
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The most reasonable plan would be to repeal federal classification of MJ as a Schedule 1 drug and allow the states to handle drug reform themselves.
Drugs have been smuggled over the border for years.
The government needs to secure the border.
Texas has been spending millions of dollars of their own to pay National Guards, DPS and more agents to guard it's border. Not right.
There's 1,900 miles of the border and not enough of agents to guard it all of the time.
It will stay the same.
Some of the Mexican cartel members, biker gangs and a lot of other people sell the drug.
A squash truck from Mexico broke down on a Houston freeway. A million dollars worth of pot was mixed in with the squash. So there are different ways to take the drugs across the border.
A drone loaded with too much meth crashed on the U,S. side of the border.
Drugs come across the river on boats. Agents stop some of them.
Coyotes smuggle in drugs and illegals and go across Rancher's ranches and farmer's farms.
There are a lot of ways to get the drugs across the border.
It will be a significant legal and social challenge for states as more and more of their neighbors legalize recreational marijuana. I don't know how these states can best deal with it; I don't have that level of insight and experience. But what seems obvious to me is that the illegal dealers of marijuana in these neighboring states - especially in the areas near the border - are going to have more trouble staying in business. And that sounds like a good thing.
There's already a lawsuit in the pipes between the states surrounding Colorado and each other. That will probably have to be determined by the Supreme Court, which unless someone does something in Congress, make it illegal again everywhere.
It's more expensive to buy legally than illegally in states that have it legalized. If someone is going to break the law to carry it across state lines, they'll also save some money and buy it illegally.