Pubdate: Sun, 10 Oct 2010 Source: Denver Post (CO) Copyright: 2010 Stan White Contact: http://www.denverpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122 Author: Stan White Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n805/a12.html HOW LEGALIZING POT FITS THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM Re: "Pot-legalization measure may boost California Dems," Oct. 3 news story. Democrats should worry about the Republican Party staking a claim in the cannabis (marijuana) issue. It's interesting that Republicans have resisted jumping on the cannabis bandwagon since the issue covers so many so-called Republican issues: states' rights, smaller federal government, free trade, capitalism, constitutional rights and re-legalizing cannabis. For Democrats to snooze any longer could cost them dearly if the Republicans wake up and smell the grass. Forget the soft-on-crime implications of the past. Allowing cartels and the black market to regulate cannabis, with its violent nature, is being soft on crime. Stan White, Dillon - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D