Legalizing marijuana would have a detrimental effect on the Islamic State’s funding. And, according o the country’s National Anti-mafia and Anti-terrorism Chief Franco Roberti, it would cut into the profits of organized criminal operations in Italy.

Hashish being smuggled out of northern Africa ravels through ISIS-controlled territories, before making its way into Italy and other parts of Europe where organized crime profits from distribution. This system allows for criminals and terrorists, alike, to profit from the trade of cannabis. The prosecutor says that this system would likely be damaged if cannabis were to be legalized, or even decriminalized.

Roberti told Reuters magazine, “We spend a lot of resources uselessly. We have not succeeded in reducing cannabinoid trafficking. On the contrary, it’s increasing. It is worth using investigative energy to fight street sales of soft drugs?