DEA acknowledges that cannabis legalization reduces illegal demand

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently acknowledged in a report that the legalization of cannabis at the state level reduced illicit cannabis trafficking.

In its budget presentation to the U.S. Congress for fiscal year 2021, the DEA provided an overview of its operations and offered projections on future trends. Although buried deep within the document, this detail did not go unnoticed à Marijuana Moment, the DEA acknowledges that the legalization of cannabis reduces the illegal demand for cannabis.

«Following the legalization of medical cannabis in Florida in 2017, which led to the establishment of retail distribution centers throughout the [region], the legalization of low-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (10%) in March 2019 is expected to lead to a growing market for low-THC cannabis in Florida.»

«However, until cannabis is legalized in Florida, we believe the impact on demand for high-THC cannabis from California or other states will be minimal,» she continues. «Until then, the potential for abuse of the current law remains a possibility due to the difficulty law enforcement has in detecting THC potency.»

The argument seems to have two parts. Not only does the DEA acknowledge that people tend to prefer legal cannabis, but the agency also uses the key phrase «up to» when discussing the prospects for legalizing adult use in Florida.

Justin Strekal, policy director of NORML, a pro-legalization organization, told Marijuana Moment that the DEA's conclusion was «obvious.».

«Just as alcohol smuggling declined after alcohol was legalized, the same is true for cannabis smuggling in a state where its sale is legal and regulated,» he said. This is a trend that «we have been observing for years in practice in every state across the country.».

«The wording of the sentence makes it clear that the ban is almost over,» he said.

In Florida, the campaign to legalize cannabis has been postponed until 2022 rather than this year. Medical use is now legal as a flower. Various lawmakers are currently trying to set a THC limit of 10% for medical cannabis intended for people under 21.