Pubdate: Wed, 06 Jun 2012 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 2012 Los Angeles Times Contact: http://www.latimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248 Author: Robert Sharpe Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n299/a05.html DONE IN BY THE WAR ON DRUGS Re "Here's a drug connection that everyone ignores," Column, June 3 Steve Lopez blames drug consumers for Mexican cartel violence. Let's not forget the role of our federal government. The illicit drug of choice in the United States is high-quality, domestically grown marijuana. Cartel weed is notoriously inferior. By using federal resources to shut down nonviolent domestic growers, the Obama administration is driving consumers into the hands of violent Mexican drug cartels. Anyone in California who wants a medical marijuana recommendation can get one. The recommendation allows consumers to purchase locally grown marijuana of known quality and safety from dispensaries that generate tax revenue. The Obama administration apparently wants to end all domestic marijuana cultivation. Is it somehow preferable that consumers purchase marijuana from Mexican drug cartels that also sell cocaine, meth and heroin? Robert Sharpe Washington The writer is a policy analyst for Common Sense Drug Policy. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom