For the most part, the great legal cannabis experiment in Colorado has been a wild success. Rather than leading to violence or crime, as some had feared, marijuana has brought peace and prosperity to the colorful state. However, there are still a few that are trying to convince everyone that cannabis causes death and destruction.
Several prosecutors in Colorado have come out and claimed that they believe legal cannabis to be responsible for a majority of the murders in the state.
Recently, in an interview with FOX 31 Denver, Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler stated that he believes two thirds of the homicides he has witnessed since legalization have some kind of connection to cannabis. He feels that those who have taken to selling black market marijuana now that the substance is legal are responsible for this problem.
“There is increased crime, sometimes violent crime, associated with legalization of marijuana,” he stated in the interview. “It is easier for there to be black market in a legalized system than there was before.”
This is surprising, considering the fact that most feel the legalization experiment in Colorado to be a big success. Governor Hickenlooper is now in support of the decision to legalize, and Andrew Freeman, the Director of Marijuana Coordination for the State of Colorado, stated that there have been far fewer legal issues resulting from this passed measure than people initially feared.
It seems that rather than legal cannabis causing an increase in violence, it is forcing the gangs who are selling cannabis illegally to become more ruthless, which is a sure sign that gang and black market control over the substance in general is dwindling.
“Blaming Colorado’s regulated marijuana system for violence stemming from illegal sales is like blaming Colorado’s traffic laws for accidents caused by drivers who run red lights,” Mason Tvert, Director of Communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, stated in an interview with HIGH Times. “If Mr. Brauchler is truly concerned about the violence associated with illegal marijuana sales, he should be urging local governments to lift their bans on regulated marijuana businesses.”
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