[MEGoody]

You are correct

Question: Do you think the drug cartels would cease conducting illegal business if marijuana were legalized?

[Ken H]

Question: Do you think the drug cartels would cease conducting illegal business if marijuana were legalized?

No. They would continue to make whatever they could from cocaine and heroin smuggling and such, but they would lose their "bread and butter". Since demand is already being met for cocaine et al, the upside from those other activities is limited.

[SpaceBar]

Question: Do you think the drug cartels would cease conducting illegal business if marijuana were legalized?

The honest answer to your question is "no". Because they are criminal enterprises. Your question might make more sense if you asked if criminals would do something else if crime were legalized. In this particular case they control the supply of a lucrative commodity. Once that opportunity is gone they will do something else like gambling or prostitution. Then you may ask "if gambling and prostitution..." and we'd be back to square one.