Pubdate: Mon, 23 Mar 2009
Source: Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK)
Copyright: 2009 Muskogee Daily Phoenix
Contact:  http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3319
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MEXICO'S PROBLEM MORE THAN MARIJUANA

We don't disagree with U.S. Attorney General Eric  Holder's loosening 
of restrictions on medical  marijuana.

But the federal government should not move toward  legalization of 
marijuana, either the complete  legalization or use as a prescription drug.

In a shift from the policy of former President 
Bush's  administration, Holder said the Justice Department  would 
target California's medical marijuana  distributors only if they 
violate both federal and  state law. California's marijuana laws are 
less strict  than federal law.

Holder has drawn criticism, but he is not proposing  legalization, 
just practicality in utilizing limited  resources that can be 
directed toward more serious  crimes.

In fact, others in law enforcement are suggesting the  same thing. 
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard said  in January that if 
marijuana's distribution and use  could be controlled, he could see 
it reclassified a  prescription drug.

Goddard said the impetus for his opinion was based on  information 
that 75 percent of the revenue of Mexican  drug cartels comes from 
the illegal sale of marijuana.

If that source of revenue could be denied the cartels,  Goddard 
reasoned, the cartels and the violence they  spawn could be curtailed.

That may be true to some extent if Goddard's revenue  estimate from 
marijuana is true. However, a flood of  support for Goddard's 
estimate has not appeared since  January.

And though Mexico's illegal drug and cartel problems  certainly are 
exacerbated by Americans' demand for  marijuana, let's not forget a 
bigger issue: Mexico's  long history of political corruption.

Mexico has never been able to reign in its criminal  element and that 
criminal element frequently is part  and parcel with its government.

Mexico will need support for its law enforcement and  army, which the 
United States has been offering in  battling the cartels. But if 
Mexico would clean up its  political corruption, we could expect a 
lesser degree  of lawlessness and a higher degree of calm and 
prosperity in Mexico.

But we oppose legalization.

If we think we have problems now with marijuana, the  problems would 
only grow with more and more people  having uninhibited access to the drug.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom