Pubdate: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 2011 Los Angeles Times Contact: http://www.latimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248 Author: Robert Sharpe Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n626/a04.html DRUG MADNESS Re "The medical marijuana mess," Editorial, Oct. 14 Mexican drug cartels are no doubt thrilled with the Obama administration's crackdown on voter-approved medical marijuana dispensaries. So much for change. So much for jobs. The medical marijuana industry is one of the few job creators in the current down economy. If President Obama succeeds in destroying the domestic medical marijuana industry, 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 a good thing. Marijuana prohibition is a gateway drug policy. Robert Sharpe Washington The writer is a policy analyst at Common Sense for Drug Policy. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom