Pubdate: Sun, 29 Jul 2012 Source: Tulsa World (OK) Copyright: 2012 World Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.tulsaworld.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/463 Author: Steven L. Riker STRANGE BEDFELLOWS Recently, a brave soul introduced a bill in the Oklahoma Legislature to legalize medical marijuana. Without going into the merits of such an undertaking, or its broader implications and possibilities, I would like to comment on one group strongly opposed to any such legislation: the drug cartels and street gangs. Anyone opposing the legalization of marijuana has the narco-terrorists block firmly at their back. They know any intelligent revision of the current criminal statutes would do the most harm imaginable to their existence. Certainly more so than any quasi-military or police efforts are doing. The so-called War on Drugs is not winnable. The "Just Say No" campaign is naive, at best. All drugs, except those classified as Class "A" narcotics, should be decriminalized. Among other things, it would ease prison overcrowding (thereby saving tax dollars), lead to realistic abuse treatment programs, and bring much-needed revenue to state coffers if regulated like alcohol (i.e. state licensed vendors). The sad experiment of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution should be evidence enough of society's ongoing tolerance of mild recreational substances. Again, the death-dealing, chaoscreating Mexican cartels and their American street gang allies will applaud every effort to kill legalization of marijuana, medical or otherwise. To those of you who believe they have the moral high ground in this argument, look who you're in bed with. Steven L. Riker, Tusla - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom