Okay, I'm seeing these illegal farms exist, but where exactly is the evidence for a causal link between marijuana legalization and these illegal farms?
I'm actually seeing some evidence that there's no connection between legalization and the illegal farms at all.
For example, the first article says that most of the weed grown on illegal farms in Maine isn't being sold in Maine, it's being sold in Canada. I'm just not seeing how legalization in Maine would result in more marijuana being grown illegally and sold in Canada.
The second article says, "A big part of the problem is rooted in the legalization of industrial hemp, which looks and smells like marijuana but won’t get you high." I.e. the article you posted directly disagrees with your assertion that legalization of marijuana is the cause.
> The second article says, "A big part of the problem is rooted in the legalization of industrial hemp, which looks and smells like marijuana but won’t get you high."
The next sentence says farm-scale hemp production was legalized in 2010. When the price of hemp collapsed in 2018, which was after weed had been legalized, hemp farms started being used as cover for illegal weed farms, because legalization had created such a huge market for weed.
> For example, the first article says that most of the weed grown on illegal farms in Maine isn't being sold in Maine, it's being sold in Canada. I'm just not seeing how legalization in Maine would result in more marijuana being grown illegally and sold in Canada.
That was the opinion of a single anonymous weed grower. These farms didn't exist prior to Maine legalizing sale of recreational weed in 2020, and the more lax laws about possessing weed mean it's harder to get a warrant to search these residential grow houses.
> When the price of hemp collapsed in 2018, which was after weed had been legalized, hemp farms started being used as cover for illegal weed farms, because legalization had created such a huge market for weed.
To be clear, you are saying that, not the article. I'm asking for evidence for your opinion.
> That was the opinion of a single anonymous weed grower.
Well, sure, I didn't say the evidence was strong either way, but it remains true that all the evidence you've presented contradicts your opinion that there's a causal relationship between legalization and illegal cartel farms.
> These farms didn't exist prior to Maine legalizing sale of recreational weed in 2020, and the more lax laws about possessing weed mean it's harder to get a warrant to search these residential grow houses.
The first claim is correlation, not causation.
Any citation for the latter claim? In the absence of evidence, one might equally argue that not prosecuting now-legal operations frees up resources to go after these larger illegal operations.
To be clear, I'm not arguing there isn't a connection; I don't know whether there is or not. But so far I'm hearing your claim that there is a connection with no evidence.
