How the War on Drugs Fuels Human Trafficking
How the War on Drugs Fuels Human Trafficking
The War on Drugs contributes to modern-day slavery in America.
In a recent report from the *Portland Press Herald*, a shocking and heartbreaking story came to light about illegal cannabis grow sites in Maine. The workers at these sites, many of whom are immigrants, are reportedly being subjected to conditions that sound like something out of a nightmare—conditions that have all the makings of human trafficking.
This disturbing situation is yet another glaring example of how the War on Drugs, particularly the criminalization of marijuana, has paved the way for such atrocities to happen right here in the United States.
Let’s take a closer look at what went down. In late December, someone working at an illegal cannabis grow site in China, Maine, made a desperate call to the police. According to the report, the caller said, “No cellphones. We were abducted from China, passports were confiscated. No escape from the house, only work but no salary. I want to leave here, we tried to escape but failed. We were beaten. Please come and save us.”
When the police arrived, they found three people and nearly 1,000 mature cannabis plants at the site. But despite the chilling call for help, they didn’t find anyone in immediate distress, and the local sheriff later downplayed the tip. However, anti-trafficking advocates and local law enforcement aren’t buying it. They say the situation has all the telltale signs of human trafficking.
Hailey Virusso, who works with the anti-human trafficking division of Preble Street in Portland, explained it best: “Human trafficking is a heinous crime that our office takes seriously. Any evidence of human trafficking will be thoroughly investigated and if discovered, vigorously prosecuted.”
So, how did we get here?
The answer is as old as the War on Drugs itself. By making marijuana illegal, the government has essentially handed over the keys to the cannabis industry to criminal organizations who victimize vulnerable indiviuals daily.
These shady operations are more than happy to take advantage of desperate and vulnerable people, many of whom are new immigrants just looking for a better life. Instead of finding the American Dream, they end up trapped in a nightmare—working in squalid conditions, living in constant fear, and having their freedom stripped away. In essence, the War on Drugs has been the greatest boon for human traffickers in the United States.
In Maine alone, more than 200 illegal grow operations have been identified, with federal prosecutors saying many of them are run by transnational criminal organizations with links to China. These criminals are luring people in with promises of good jobs and steady pay, only to lock them into forced labor once they arrive.
Rafael Flores Ávalos, from the Polaris Project, which operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline, hit the nail on the head when he said, “What we hear more of from the hotline is of the recruitment process, of people attracted to these opportunities by someone they trust.”
And it’s not just happening in Maine. These kinds of operations are popping up all over the country. In at least 20 states, similar stories are unfolding. What’s truly tragic is that much of this could be avoided if people weren’t so convinced that using the government to dictate what people do with a plant is a viable idea.
Legalizing marijuana would bring the industry out of the shadows and into the light. Not only would it mean that Americans would not face imprisonment for consuming the plant, it would cut off a major source of income for these criminal organizations, making it a lot harder for them to exploit people.
Even local law enforcement, like Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster, has noticed how these criminal networks are constantly adapting to stay one step ahead of the law. “We are executing these search warrants, but there’s no one at the residence, and I think that’s by design,” Lancaster said. “We’re dealing with smart people, and they’re adjusting how they do business.” This cat-and-mouse game isn’t just frustrating—it’s a clear indication that the War on Drugs is failing miserably.
The bottom line is this: The War on Drugs, especially the battle against marijuana, has done far more harm than good. It’s created a thriving black market where criminals can exploit vulnerable people with little fear of being caught. Legalizing marijuana would strip these criminals of much of their power.
As Virusso put it, “Illicit marijuana grows are rife with the potential for exploitative conditions because they create layers of invisibility, which creates real fear and justifiable fear. Just because we don’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not there.” She’s absolutely right. The horrors we’re hearing about in Maine are likely just the tip of the iceberg, and it’s time we did something about it.
So, what’s the solution? It’s pretty simple, really. Legalize marijuana. End the War on Drugs. Bring these operations into the light and take away the power from the criminals who are profiting off the suffering of others. It’s high time we recognize that the cost of keeping marijuana illegal is just too high—especially when that cost is paid in human lives.