Pubdate: Wed, 12 Oct 2011
Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)
Copyright: 2011 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Contact: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/submitletters
Website: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/394
Author: Robert Sharpe

NOT THE CHANGE WE WERE LOOKING FOR

Mexican drug cartels are no doubt thrilled with the Obama
administration's crackdown on voter-approved medical marijuana
dispensaries. So much for change and 2008 campaign promises to respect
states' rights. So much for jobs. The medical marijuana industry is
one of the few job creators in the current down economy. If Obama
succeeds in destroying the domestic medical marijuana industry,
international drug cartels will move in to meet demand and reap the
profits. This is basic economics. As long as there is a demand for
marijuana, there will be a supply. Replacing domestic growers with
organized crime groups that also sell cocaine, meth and heroin is not
necessarily a good thing. Marijuana prohibition is a gateway drug policy.

Robert Sharpe, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy
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