i too think its more about the economics of it. Territory and business with in the criminal element is cut throat.

This. Drug industry has to settle disputes outside the law because it can't use the courts (and by proxy, threat of state violence) to deal with business disputes. So it's necessarily more violent because there aren't state level resources around to fund expensive stuff like due process. Being inherently criminal probably also ups the violence just from selection bias.

Someone rips you off in the drug industry you and your buddies go beat them up and take their stuff of value. Someone rips you off in above the table business you sue them.