Pubdate: Mon, 06 Feb 2012 Source: New York Daily News (NY) Copyright: 2012 Daily News, L.P. Contact: http://www.nydailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/295 Author: Robert Sharpe, Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n096/a02.html THIS IS YOUR PRESIDENT ON DOPE Washington: Re "Google's smoke and mirrors" (Op-Ed, Jan. 20): Not only has President Obama dodged marijuana legalization questions that rise to the top of every electronic town hall, but he has reneged on a campaign commitment to respect state medical marijuana laws. Mexican drug cartels are no doubt thrilled with the federal crackdown on voter-approved medical marijuana dispensaries. 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 - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.