Last year, around 13.5 million pounds of marijuana was produced in California of which only 2.5 million pounds was consumed. The wide gap between production and consumption came to light was discovered by the state Department of Food and Agriculture. It is believed that the surplus has made its way into other states where some where marijuana has not been legalized. As California gets ready for the sale of recreational marijuana, that surplus has become an issue.
Marijuana is an illegal drug under federal law, and U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions favors stricter enforcement. States interpreted a memo from 2013 by former Deputy Atty. Gen. Cole federal intervention could be avoided if they strived to prevent serious marijuana crimes including exports to other states.
The new California Bureau of Cannabis Control is struggling to put the regulations in place to commence issuing state licenses to grow, transport and sell marijuana starting for January. One regulation explicitly prohibits the exporting of marijuana to another state.
“If we want to avoid intervention from the federal government, we need to do everything we can to crack down on illegal activity and prevent cannabis from being exported out of state,” according to assemblyman, Tom Lackey.
Last month a new legislation by Lackey was introduced stating the California Highway Patrol as the lead state law enforcement agency investigating black market cannabis. Lackey believes his bill will cease the exportation of marijuana.
Law enforcement officers in states like Texas are concerned about California’s exports.The Texas Department of Public Safety stated that the state’s Interstate 40, “Has become a major drug corridor”. In August troopers seized $2.5 million worth of marijuana from vehicles coming from California.
“Any amount of marijuana coming out of California and going through our state is a problem because it’s not a legalized drug in Texas,” said Lt. Bryan Witt of the Texas. California officials anticipate keeping marijuana off the black market saying, “If we catch anybody with any amount from California, they will be arrested. Our marijuana laws will be enforced.”.
Last year the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies reported seizing nearly 5.3 million marijuana plants throughout the nation with seventy percent in California alone. The were 2,002 arrests in California last year involving 2,117 growing sites. California executives have developed ways to avert state-licensed farm’s marijuana from becoming illegal exports.
Colorado, Oregon, and Washington have legalized the recreational use of marijuana and are encountering the chance of more federal enforcement. State officials, including Assemblyman Ken Cooley, who introduced bills to regulate marijuana, states they are conscious of the risks and have attempted to create a system to restrict illegal activity.
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