Pubdate: Sat, 08 Jan 2011 Source: Gazette, The (Colorado Springs, CO) Copyright: 2011 The Gazette Contact: http://www.gazette.com/sections/opinion/submitletter/ Website: http://www.gazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/165 Author: Wayne Laugesen, For the editorial board Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?277 (Cannabis - Medicinal - Colorado) AG STRETCHES DRUG INDICTMENT TOO FAR Colorado Attorney General John Suthers knows all about scam artists. As a passionate defender of the public, he warns us about them routinely. A typical consumer advisory he issued in February of 2008 warned consumers and businesses of an e-mail scam. Suspected criminals pretended they represented the United States Department of Justice and made demands on e-mail recipients. In his warning, Suthers did not draw a nexus between the criminals and the Department of Justice. To do so would have been absurd. In January of 2006, Suthers warned consumers about a telemarketing scam involving criminals who pretended they were from the "Colorado Department of Health." His warning condemned the criminals; not health departments. Suthers warned us last year of groups attempting to scam money to help earthquake victims in Haiti. He did not claim a nexus between pretend charities and legitimate charities, such as Catholic Relief Services or Compassion International. To do so would have been absurd. Yet Suthers wasted no time Friday connecting a small group of suspected scam artists with their legal and legitimate counterparts. He announced the indictment of a black-market marijuana-trafficking ring. The indictment involves nine suspects who Suthers believes pretended to function as legal medical-marijuana caregivers, while selling the drug illegally throughout Colorado and New Mexico. It's much like an allegation of suspects pretending to function as a legitimate charity to get away with a fundraising crime. Yet Suthers didn't give legal marijuana businesses, the people who pay taxes and fees and jump through hoops to remain in business, the same courtesy he has extended to government agencies and charities that criminals routinely mimic. Instead, he issued the following statement: "This case, while disturbing, should come as no surprise to Coloradans who have been concerned that there is a nexus between Colorado's booming medical marijuana industry and illegal distribution of the drug," Suthers said. Sure, just like there's a nexus between Department of Justice officials and criminals who pretend they're Department of Justice officials. Suthers continued: "This case counters the contention among marijuana advocates and some public officials that a regulated medical marijuana system will undercut the illicit market for marijuana." Not quite. The fact these criminals pretended they were legitimate tells us that old-fashioned drug dealers may be finding it difficult to function in the criminal underground. That could be a stretch, but it's most certainly a stretch to use this case as an indictment of those who have obeyed the law and sell medical marijuana legally from storefronts. Congratulations to Suthers and his team for this indictment in what appears an important case. Just remember that it's an indictment of suspected criminals, not those whom they impersonated. Those people are victims. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom