Inside the Underground World of Illegal Marijuana: The Growing Battle for Control
In states like New York where cannabis is legal, there is a growing problem with black market marijuana. Recently, law enforcement found thousands of pounds of illegal weed worth tens of millions of dollars.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics has caught large shipments of illegal marijuana twice this year, heading to New York and New Jersey. Just recently, they raided a warehouse in Oklahoma City, seizing almost 7,000 pounds of illegal marijuana worth nearly $28 million.
Illegal marijuana trafficking has surged in Oklahoma because criminals are taking advantage of cheap land and loopholes in the law to make money from the illegal trade. They ship marijuana from Oklahoma farms to the black market all across the country.
New York is an attractive market for illegal cannabis because the legal recreational marijuana rollout has faced problems. Excessive regulations and a complicated licensing process have led to many illegal dispensaries opening up all over the state. In fact, Mayor Eric Adams estimates there were about 1,500 illegal dispensaries in New York City alone in February.
Although New York is making efforts to crack down on illegal cannabis, authorities are still unsure where the illegal weed is coming from. Legal cannabis in the state is grown locally and regulated, making it more expensive for both growers and consumers.
On the other hand, Oklahoma has become a hotspot for growing illegal marijuana because it has simple regulations and low-cost licenses for selling medical marijuana. Many growers have moved from states like California and Nevada to Oklahoma due to the favorable conditions.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics is working with New York and other states, along with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, to stop illegal trafficking. However, they face a constant battle against criminal organizations involved in the illegal marijuana trade.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
