ARRESTING LOCAL MARIJUANA GROWERS JUST HELPS MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS

In response to Jeff Jardine's column "Pot plant stands out" (Feb. 10,
Page B-1): Does anyone truly believe that dedicating police resources
to busting local marijuana farms is going to prevent Modesto
residents from smoking marijuana? Eliminating local marijuana growers
only to have them replaced by Mexican drug cartels that sell cocaine,
heroin and methamphetamine is not a good thing.

Not only should medical marijuana be made available to patients in
need, but adult recreational use should be regulated. Drug policies
modeled after alcohol prohibition have given rise to a youth-oriented
black market. Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, but they do
recruit minors immune to adult sentences. So much for protecting the children.

Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit
the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only
increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs
like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to
increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war
doesn't fight crime; it fuels crime. Taxing and regulating marijuana,
the most popular illicit drug, is a cost-effective alternative to
never-ending drug war.

ROBERT SHARPE policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C.