Cannabis use is still a hotly debated topic for a number of reasons. The states’ differences in opinions on cannabis use has led to a number of issues showing up. Some of them are minor issues like limits on where and how much they can purchase. However, some issues that have come to be are more serious. The main issue that is arising is that people are taking advantage of the lack of oversight to perform illegal acts. This comes about most often as a result of the actions of the still illegal growers. Specifically, many states, despite not allowing even medicinal marijuana, still have to contend with a growing black market of the plants. However, that’s just the beginning for the problems resulting from cannabis illegality.

That said, these issues could be remedied by certain changes in lawmaking towards either direction of the cannabis legality debate.

Farm Description

The main issue that is popping up in multiple cannabis-growing states, like California and Oregon, is that there are growers that don’t have a license to do so pretending to be legal growers. Investigators have found hundreds of greenhouses and thousands of plants on these illegal growers. Added to that, there have been reportedly hundreds of illegal immigrant workers working on the farms. The illegal growers force these workers to live on the land in poor conditions.

Growing Problem

In regards to the states that still don’t allow even medicinal marijuana use, people have formeda black market of those willing to risk interstate transport of it. For clarification, interstate transportation is still illegal regardless of the circumstances.

To add more onto that problem, the article explains that the Mexican cartels are taking advantage of the confusion to make some money for themselves. They are purchasing land to grow what the law requires to be federally legal hemp plants. However, law enforcement can’t determine the difference between hemp and marijuana without chemical testing. As a result, illegal growers mix the plants together in order to profit.

Additionally, the article describes how the illegal growers give the workers poor facilities to live in. For instance, reports say they live in tents or shipping containers with no running water or toilet facilities. They sleep on cardboard and face exposure to harmful chemicals, like pesticides, and dangerous conditions.

Response

Oregon officials, just one state having this problem, have pointed out how not only does this endanger the public, but the environment as well. This is due to the fact that the illegal growers take water they aren’t allowed to use. California has been dealing with the same problem as illegal marijuana growers are stealing water in areas already lacking it. Be aware that while the facts given in the editorial may be exaggerated, they raise points that should be looked into.

Hopefully, as more states become more open, these problems will start to disappear as well.

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