Despite the legalization of recreational marijuana in Nevada in 2016, the black market for the drug has persisted, leading to a rise in robberies and killings. According to a review of police and court records, as well as expert interviews, the expected elimination of the black market has not materialized. In fact, there have been three killings in Las Vegas linked to cannabis transactions in a four-month period this year, with two of them involving robberies.
The persistence of the black market is attributed to the fact that legalization was oversold as a crime-control measure, according to Alex del Carmen, a criminologist and dean of Westfield State University College of Professional Studies. Instead, legalization was primarily a regulatory and civil-liberties reform.
One recent example of a cannabis-related killing occurred on March 30, when Deven Mays, 30, was fatally shot during an illicit marijuana deal gone bad in an apartment complex near West Ann Road and Interstate 11. Four individuals, including Miles Spivey, 18, Kyree Brown, 20, and DaeQuan McGee, 18, have been charged with robbery, murder, and multiple other felonies in connection with the case.
The continued presence of the black market for marijuana highlights the need for effective regulation and enforcement to address the illegal drug trade.
