Will Legalizing the Marijuana Industry Reduce Crime?

Kareem Musa

Now it is no secret that spiralling criminal activity, including murders, are often associated with the illegal drug trade in both Belize City and other parts of the country.  Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries says that the proposed legislation is expected to reduce these violent crimes.

Kareem Musa, Minister of New Growth Industries

“In states that have taken advantage of this opportunity, Duane, we have actually seen where crime has gone down. So there is a huge boost to the economy, like I said; you get jobs created all across the industry. And so the opportunities that are going to be there not just to partake as an owner and a grower, but employees all around – it certainly creates that environment. And that is why in the act, we actually refer to it as the Cannabis Unity Project because it will take the coming together of these communities, the same communities that are warring factions to come together to see how we can structure, how we can come up with a formula that ensures that we will not be continuing this war. We no longer have to dodge from the cartels of Mexico and bring it in illegally and all of that. The price of it is going to go down drastically, the quality is going to go up, but at the same time we have to ensure that it is spread across. So everybody is involved, but if it is that you are going to be killing one another, then we have to pull back. We have to look at it and assess.”