4 ms·

Not to sound cynical, but (even if marijuana was legal to grow and consume) what's to stop a cartel from simply threatening the lives of anyone else who grows i

Not to sound cynical, but (even if marijuana was legal to grow and consume) what's to stop a cartel from simply threatening the lives of anyone else who grows it?

jpatokal 11y ago
The same that stops the mafia from threatening anybody who brews beer or distills liquor: the target can now call the cops.
- largote 11y ago
  Most people would switch to legal providers therefore drying up one of the money pipelines for cartels. Most of their power comes from their relatively large economic influence. Large corporate interests could leverage legit logistical infrastructure and take over, plus large corporations are rich and connected enough to get the police to actually enforce the law for them against threats.
- steve19 11y ago
  The cops who work for the cartel [1]? [1] http://time.com/3490853/mexico-massacre-students-police-cartel-corruption/ http://time.com/3490853/mexico-massacre-students-police-cart... Edit: Downvoters, I would love to hear why I am wrong. I only know what I read about Mexican law enforcement, no personal experience dealing with them.
  - jpatokal 11y ago
    Imagine alcohol was illegal in Mexico, was suddenly legalized, and then the booze mafia and the corrupt cops on their payroll go around threatening home brewers selling their wares. Then Anheuser-Busch comes along and plunks down $100 million to build a brewery. Which side is any cop with half a brain going to opt for: the mafiosos trying to cling onto their obsolete business model, or the legit megacorp who'll be paying "facilitation fees" for decades to come?
- woodman 11y ago
  It wasn't the poor moonshiner's ability to finally squeal for daddy that pushed the mafia out of the liquor business... it was the fact that they could not compete in the market place. Sure they could have went on a rampage and wrecked a bunch of legit distilleries, but all the while they would be hemorrhaging cash. Killing people aint cheap.
arebop 11y ago
What's to stop a cartel from doing the same for corn growers?
- alex_anglin 11y ago
  Limes last year[1], corn next year? [1] http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mexican-drug-cartel-behind-increase-in-lime-prices-1.2584437 http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mexican-drug-cartel-behind-incr...
- steve19 11y ago
  What is to stop Facebook buying corn farms in the USA? Nothing except it's not what they know and not as profitable.

Not to sound cynical, but (even if marijuana was legal to grow and consume) what's to stop a cartel from simply threatening the lives of anyone else who grows it?

jpatokal 11y ago

The same that stops the mafia from threatening anybody who brews beer or distills liquor: the target can now call the cops.

largote 11y ago
Most people would switch to legal providers therefore drying up one of the money pipelines for cartels. Most of their power comes from their relatively large economic influence. Large corporate interests could leverage legit logistical infrastructure and take over, plus large corporations are rich and connected enough to get the police to actually enforce the law for them against threats.
steve19 11y ago
The cops who work for the cartel [1]? [1] http://time.com/3490853/mexico-massacre-students-police-cartel-corruption/ http://time.com/3490853/mexico-massacre-students-police-cart... Edit: Downvoters, I would love to hear why I am wrong. I only know what I read about Mexican law enforcement, no personal experience dealing with them.
- jpatokal 11y ago
  Imagine alcohol was illegal in Mexico, was suddenly legalized, and then the booze mafia and the corrupt cops on their payroll go around threatening home brewers selling their wares. Then Anheuser-Busch comes along and plunks down $100 million to build a brewery. Which side is any cop with half a brain going to opt for: the mafiosos trying to cling onto their obsolete business model, or the legit megacorp who'll be paying "facilitation fees" for decades to come?
woodman 11y ago
It wasn't the poor moonshiner's ability to finally squeal for daddy that pushed the mafia out of the liquor business... it was the fact that they could not compete in the market place. Sure they could have went on a rampage and wrecked a bunch of legit distilleries, but all the while they would be hemorrhaging cash. Killing people aint cheap.

arebop 11y ago

What's to stop a cartel from doing the same for corn growers?

alex_anglin 11y ago
Limes last year[1], corn next year? [1] http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mexican-drug-cartel-behind-increase-in-lime-prices-1.2584437 http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mexican-drug-cartel-behind-incr...
steve19 11y ago
What is to stop Facebook buying corn farms in the USA? Nothing except it's not what they know and not as profitable.