One problem is that the market demand remains so high in the states with criminalization that the legal states like CA and CO (and the Feds) are faced with the challenge- and expense- of sorting out the unlicensed growing operations and busting them. That was never even an effective mission in the days when the states had criminalization statutes. Now they're being tasked to continue massive enforcement efforts in order to curb supplies for other US states that won't face the reality of their own demand.

I support the effort to shut down large-scale bootleg growing operations, the same way I support shutting down moonshine liquor operations. (Large indoor operations especially rub me the wrong way. Including the legal ones.) But as long as cannabis remains Federally illegal and interstate transport is outlawed, the illicit suppliers are going to find marked advantages cultivating their sources of supply from within the US rather than dodging interdiction at the national borders. Twistedly enough, many of the large bootleg growing operations in California are now vertically integrated operations funded, staffed, and run by Mexican cartels!

The answer should be obvious- Federal legalization, and the ability to lawfully trans-ship cannabis across state lines. (If a given state is bound and determined to keep cannabis criminalized, so be it...not much different than the way Prohibition played out with alcohol, although even Utah eventually gave up on distilled alcohol Prohibition a few years back.) But the risk-averse political class of our national leadership in Congress and the White House needs to be dragged kicking and screaming into the present day on this matter.