Pubdate: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 Source: Nevada Appeal (Carson City, NV) Copyright: 2006 Nevada Appeal Contact: http://www.nevadaappeal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/896 Author: Patrick Killen MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION WOULD CURB DRUG CARTELS A recent article in the Nevada Appeal ("Illegal immigrants present a creative, sometimes violent challenge," Aug. 24) discussed the fact that some of Nevada's National Guard troops are currently stationed at the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona. The troops are assisting with the Border Patrol's efforts to reduce illegal immigration, but they have also witnessed drug smugglers bringing marijuana into the U.S. from Mexico - threatening the lives of Border Patrol agents in the process. This is a classic illustration of the failure of our marijuana laws: The prohibition of marijuana has led to a profitable criminal market, which is luring drug cartels across our border. Along the way, they threaten the lives of our border guards. Isn't it time we stop allowing criminals to profit from the illegal sales of marijuana? Through a system of taxation and regulation, marijuana can be placed into a tightly controlled and regulated market - - taking money away from Mexican drug cartels, violent gangs and drug dealers, while generating much-needed tax revenue for our state. The taxation and regulation of marijuana - which is on the ballot this November as Question 7 - is a sensible alternative to the failure of our current marijuana laws. Patrick Killen Las Vegas - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake