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\u00a0DEA Intelligence Brief: Green Acres is the Place to Be – Drug Traffickers and “Ganjapreneurs” Are Exploiting Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Industry, April 24, 2012<\/a> [11 Pages, 2.5MB]<\/p>\nDrug traffickers and out-of-state\u00a0opportunists are exploiting Colorado’s\u00a0medical marijuana laws. Recent revisions to\u00a0state law have done little to prevent the
\ninvolvement of criminals and individuals who\u00a0use the law for financial gain.<\/p>\n
Currently, convicted criminals and\u00a0known drug traffickers participate in Colorado’s medical marijuana industry.\u00a0Moreover, an influx of traffickers and entrepreneurs from other states is seeking to cash in on\u00a0Colorado’s medical marijuana industry. Investigative and intelligence information reveal a\u00a0significant volume of Colorado-produced marijuana being diverted to out-of-state marijuana\u00a0markets where it commands a higher price. This activity is facilitated both by \u00a0those directly\u00a0involved in medical marijuana businesses, as well as illicit brokers who seek “excess” or diverted\u00a0marijuana to sell to marijuana traffickers.<\/p>\n
When Amendment 20, which established the state constitutional right for medicinal\u00a0marijuana in Colorado, was passed by citizen petition in November 2000, the law dealt with the\u00a0use and distribution of medical marijuana in a very general fashion. By 2010, Coloradans had\u00a0witnessed a proliferation in the number of medical marijuana patients, caregivers, commercial\u00a0dispensaries, sophisticated grow operations, and various associated business ventures such as\u00a0marijuana brokers and consultants. Vague legislation and loose enforcement combined with an\u00a0aggressive, profitable industry presents ample opportunity for diversion and exploitation.\u00a0Colorado’s legislative attempts to address the evolving industry are described in DEA-DEN-DIB-012-12. This document identifies avenues being used by drug traffickers and “ganjapreneurs”\u00a0exploiting the permissive medical marijuana industry for profit.<\/p>\n