The issue focused more on legislative priorities than regulatory implications of legalization and legalized cannabis use. Advocates argue that legalizing marijuana should benefit hundreds of thousands of families across the nation who rely on Social Security benefits for coverage. Legalizing recreational cannabis might reduce welfare dependence among Medicaid beneficiaries by shifting funds away from substance abuse programs. Further, illegal cannabis legalization may strengthen enforcement efforts against illicit growers and traffickers in Colorado and Washington State. Marijuana legalization advocates acknowledge that criminal prosecutions could undermine effective prosecution strategies for cannabis legalization. Criminal penalties associated with trafficking