the prevailing theory is that the koch brothers and their ilk are creating deliberately exploitable weaknesses in the market, so that early adapter growers cant afford to stay in the market and are forced to sell their licenses, equipment, and land to "big marijuana" for pennies on the dollar.
honestly its quite fucking brilliant.
also its not really a theory considering its exactly what happened in washington. but every state after has made minor variations in the laws without really closing the door on the 'big marijuana' end game.