Why CA Could Be The Biggest Supplier Of Black Market Marijuana

CALIFORNIA -- California reportedly produces more marijuana than residents use, making it possible that the state is the biggest supplier of black market pot in the U.S., according to NBC News. In a recent report, the news outlet reported that "California produces 13.5 million pounds of marijuana annually" but only 2.5 million pounds is consumed within the state.

"Given that the California produces more than five times as much marijuana as the state market uses, the assumption is that a lot of the excess goes out of state," the report read.

A lieutenant with the Fresno County Sheriff's Department told NBC that growers will produce more marijuana than is needed to consume locally.

"They grow it in bulk, and they export it for profit," Lt. Matt Alexander told NBC.

Apparently, California has been a supplier of black market drugs in the past. NBC reported that California was known as "the meth manufacturing capital of the world" in the 1990s.

The recreational use of marijuana will officially become legal on Jan. 1. Ahead of that date, the state released new rules for businesses to follow if they want to sell the drug.

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