America has a new marijuana mafia and it answers to Beijing
America has a marijuana problem, and it isn’t just its high potency, easy availability, or widespread use among young and old alike. One of the biggest problems in the marijuana industry is the presence of illegal marijuana operations run by Chinese criminal networks. From California to Maine, Chinese nationals — many with ties to the Chinese Communist Party — are endangering rural areas, poisoning Americans, and engaging in human trafficking. In a recent demand for a federal investigation into these criminal organizations, four Republican senators highlighted the serious threat that these operations pose to the safety and security of our communities.
TL;DR
- Chinese criminal networks are running illegal marijuana operations across the United States.
- These operations pose risks to public health and safety, using toxic pesticides and dangerous electrical wiring.
- Human trafficking and slave labor are reportedly part of these criminal enterprises.
- Four Republican senators have urged the Department of Justice to investigate these networks.
- The Drug Enforcement Administration has identified Chinese transnational criminal organizations as dominant in US marijuana cultivation and distribution.