On Legalization's Complications

At the NY Times, Silvia Longmire argues that marijuana legalization wouldn't be the end of the Mexican gangs. I've made a similar case in recent months (albeit for much smaller platforms). If anything, I think Longmire understates the case, because she says that weed represents 60 percent of Mexican gangs' profits, which is a bit dated now, given the Rand report from last year. Personally, I think marijuana legalization is a no-brainer, but not so much for the underworld impact as for the fact that it is less dangerous than hard liquor. In any event, her argument that the gangs' recent expansion into extortion, kidnapping, oil theft, et cetera, has complicated the calculus regarding legalization is something I heartily agree with.