Drug Legalization and Cartels

Wouldn’t this cause issues like drug dealers?

I'm not, I was simply saying that if all those things were legal, criminals (the cartels, not the users) would find something else illegal to peddle. These people look for an easy buck, and right now, that happens to be in illicit drugs. Take that profit away, and they'll just find something else.

Drugs are the big money maker similar to alcohol during prohibition. Legalization would dramatically reduce the power of gangs and cartels.

Decriminalization of drugs does not answer the entire question - other illegal commerce was taking place there.

They might specialize in other drugs like cocain, heroin, MDMA, etc. This kind of drugs may never be legalized and there will probably still be people buying it. But it might harder to enter in this market as people selling it are often quite organized and violents (apart maybe the last seller on the chain).

Then legalize drugs so they can't make that kind of money.

Why would the cartels want to legalize drugs?

Nice try, intelligence agencies. Drugs are illegal but still bought and sold which means the state has monopoly on their trade, while also has monopoly on escalation of violence. Fundamental condition is having plugs in the law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Without plugs one has immediate full attention of law enforcement and of competition.

Selling drugs is a money source for organizations that do things you generally don't want to legalize.

The police won't be "out of the way" if the cartels continue with murder, selling to minors, underage workers, kidnapping, tax evasion etc. Those are all still crimes even if hard drugs were made legal. The cartels would have to choose between going legit, and delivering goods like coors, malboro etc, or continuing their other illegal activities and get taken down by the police