It wasn't too many years ago that major drug manufacturers and traffickers went to great lengths to disguise their criminal activities. Now they advertise them. 

Most of the commercial pot operations today are many times larger than the biggest pot smugglers/dealers that I prosecuted for 25 years as a federal drug prosecutor. All are committing serious federal felonies on a daily basis that require mandatory minimum sentences of 10-20 years (without parole). And many state and local governments are aiding and abetting these crimes - also in broad daylight - all while sharing drug proceeds re-branded as "tax revenues."  

Under the ridiculous guise of "leaving pot users alone", the Department of Justice is allowing American-grown cartels to openly defy laws that have never been changed by Congress, the President, or the courts. Because of this obscene dereliction of duty, the pot industry is growing in power, influence, and brazen defiance of clear and unambiguous federal statutes and decades of case law.

In October 2009, U.S. Attorney Eric Holder said it would not be a priority to use federal resources "to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana." Since federal resources were NEVER used to prosecute pot smokers (and especially not sick pot smokers), this was a ridiculous statement that provided one of the first green lights to the pot industry. The subsequent DOJ Cole memo launched an avalanche of pot dispensaries and more states willing to ignore federal laws for the promise of easy revenues that have further corrupted public institutions and given both young people and adults a further excuse to fry their brains. 

It is time to end the charade of "scarce federal resources". Our public institutions are being corrupted by drug money while our children watch governments embrace a toxic drug culture. A rookie federal prosecutor could easily prosecute these major traffickers using pot industry press conferences and advertisements. No need for wiretaps -- just collect the press releases.

As one of the latest examples of drug dealers operating in plain site, here is a new guide to "access cannabis flower quality" as a key to having the "best possible cannabis experience." It is brought to the American public by a major pot growing operation in Colorado called "Good Chemistry" which has this absurd statement on its website.

"We’re deeply grateful to be living and working at a time that we can make a positive impact on people’s health, safety, freedom and overall well being. We’re committed to being leaders in making life better for people through the growth, production and use of cannabis."

As solid evidence of Good Chemistry's commitment to "health, safety, and wellbeing", their "medical" menu includes important pharmaceutical products such as "Gorilla Glue #4" at $8 per gram ($3,632 a pound) or $200 per ounce ($3,200 a pound). Think about that the next time you are shocked at the price of a T-bone steak. 

About the Author

Monte Stiles served his entire professional career of 28 years as a state and federal prosecutor. For the past 24 years, as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Idaho, he supervised the Organized Crime/Drug Enforcement Task Force – a group of agents and prosecutors who investigate and prosecute high-level drug trafficking organizations, including Los Angeles street gangs, Mexican cartels, and international drug smuggling and money laundering operations.