Illegal Weed Booming in CA:  A study by the United Cannabis Business Association (UCBA) has found that, since recreational marijuana became legal in California, illegal pot sales have reached $8.7 billion, while legal pot generated an estimated $3.1 billion.  Jeffery Cawood of the Daily Wire reports that while the state is home to the largest legal marijuana market in the world, consumers are three times more likely to buy their marijuana products from an illegal source than a government regulated dispensary.   The UCBA, which describes itself as the leading voice for legal cannabis, complains that state laws requiring licensing are not being adequately enforced and that illegal shops are currently able to advertise on Weedmaps, which shows customers where they can buy the drug.  Over the past two years the state's Bureau of Cannabis Control has sized about $30 million of marijuana products from unlicensed dealers.

Mass Decarceration Will Increase Crime:  Rafael A. Mangual of the Manhattan Institute has this piece describing his research on the impact of releasing criminals from U.S. jails and prisons and reducing the penalties for new crimes.  "The size of America's prison population is driven by the incarceration of violent felons...and the vast majority of them---even those incarcerated for nonviolent drug and property offenses---will go on to re-offend, sometimes by committing serious or violent crimes."  While 60% of state prisoners are serving time for violent or serious crimes, less than 15% of state felony convictions result in more than two years in prison.  20% of murderers and nearly 60% of those in prison for rape or sexual assault serve less than five years.  A longitudinal study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics tracking over 400,000 ex-cons across 30 states found that 83% were rearrested for a new crime over a nine year period, some multiple times.  The data disproves the narrative that drug offenders  present a low risk for violent crimes.  The article cites a recent report by the Baltimore Sun which found that the average murder suspect in that city had 9 prior arrests and 70% had prior arrests for drugs.