[onlyrealcuzzo]

> then they'll have to raise taxes to offset the reduction in CIA and DEA revenues

Is this sarcasm?

Is the CIA & DEA even cash-flow positive?

I would imagine by not needing to enforce cocaine being illegal, we would have a lower tax burden. Then, you also get to do an excise tax - like with weed, alcohol, & cigarettes - and bring in a ton of revenue.

I can't imagine a world in which shitty, dangerous drugs that empower cartels has less negative externalities on the world than legal alternatives.

[echlebek]

The CIA has a history of getting funding for black ops by trafficking in narcotics, which is what the parent is probably talking about. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegations_of_CIA_drug_traffi...

The creation of this very large black market has created opportunities for clandestine funding sources for organizations that don't mind acting in extra-legal ways.

[HideousKojima]

The ATF also defrauded a tobacco co-op out of millions to create an unaccountable slush fund:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/08/us/atf-tobacco-cigarettes...

[jackson1442]

Yep, while they _can_ make some amount of money from fines it'll never come close to paying salaries to officers, covering the cost of prison, court, etc etc.