It doesn't seem like the author was trying to make a moral or ethical argument that what the cartels are doing is either right or proper. It is rather that it f

It doesn't seem like the author was trying to make a moral or ethical argument that what the cartels are doing is either right or proper. It is rather that it flows naturally. As far as I could tell it was common knowledge that the cartels would turn to some other source of income if cannabis was legalized in the US. It was unclear exactly what, but corruption and violence would still play a part as they were large parts of how the cartels functioned.