Do you have any links to these studies that show drugs would be cheaper? It would help me out for a paper I plan to write and I would like to have more ammo to fight the fascists that feel we should not have freedom to put what we want in our bodies.
I'd try google, I don't have any handy.
Still, consider:
Rather than having to grow pot in basements and out of the way places, you'd be able to grow it on farms and in greenhouses - increased productivity at lower cost.
Rather than having to use 'go fast' boats to sneak drugs past the border patrol, not to mention risky mid-sea transfers and such, you'd simply load the stuff up onto a cargo freighter. Cheaper, safer, and more predictable transport.
Rather than produce your drugs using kitchen tools, you use professional industrial chemical equipment. - cheaper and safer in large quantities.
Rather than having to worry about governments dumping herbicides on the crops, they can sell them to various US companies.
No need to keep writing off cars, houses, boats, etc as cost of doing business.
A storefront makes for stability and better sales potential with less labor than hanging out in a park at night.