"Startup"? Maybe I'm misunderstanding what your plan is but you should know that you are legally not allowed to take money from these people. Every major cartel and their leaders are designated under the Kingpin Act or as Transnational Criminal Organizations which means you cannot "[make] any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of" them. Even if they weren't designated, you cannot take money that you knew to be from a crime. Either of these are punishable by a long time in prison. The only way this would work is if it was done under close supervision with law enforcement, but it's pretty evident that American police do not have much interest in harm reduction style solutions.

I don't know if this is some elaborate troll but if your idea is so great you should just publish it. I'm sure you would get credit if it was successful.