Part 11/15:
A key concern: when marijuana is legalized in some states but remains illegal federally, regulatory gaps enable cartels and traffickers to thrive. They continue to exploit poorly regulated markets, smuggling toxic pesticides and tainted product into states where consumption is legal, and even spreading it nationwide.
Furthermore, illegal grows tied to cartels contaminate public lands, threaten hikers, hunters, and conservation efforts. The situation has become so dire that Norris advocates for mandatory reclamation of grow sites—restoring waterways, removing infrastructure, and decontaminating soil—to act as a deterrent.