On Monday, Aug. 24, the Butts County Sheriff’s Office intercepted a massive shipment of marijuana and Sheriff Gary Long is warning that legalization won’t make the black market go away. In Long’s announcement, he wrote that 1,800 pounds of marijuana was intercepted in Butts County. The shipment originated in Sacramento, California, a state where marijuana is legal. About half the load was headed to Atlanta where marijuana is permitted only under limited medical provisions, while the other half was destined for Orlando, Florida, where medical marijuana is legal, Long wrote. “One of the biggest arguments for legalizing marijuana is that the state can regulate growers, charge substantial fees to enter the industry, and reap the benefits through taxes. But here is the reality — the black market isn't going away,” Long wrote. “States that have legalized marijuana are also creating challenges for states where marijuana remains illegal or is permitted only for medical purposes. The illegal marijuana trade does not stop at the state line.” Long also said that Mexican drug-trafficking organizations and other criminal organizations continue to move enormous quantities of marijuana across state lines, undercutting legitimate growers and businesses operating within the legal system. “Our legislators need to understand that you will never completely stop or eliminate the black market simply by legalizing and regulating marijuana,” Long wrote. “In fact, without addressing the criminal…
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