SHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED AND REGULATED?

To the Editor:

Sylvia Longmire is probably right that the legalization of marijuana
isn't the silver bullet to end the carnage in Mexico. Yet employing
economics where brute military force has failed could still be a step
in the right direction. Moreover, undermining cartels is just one
benefit to regulating marijuana as we do alcohol and tobacco.

Currently, marijuana is sold in an enormous underground market. To
maximize profits and foster addiction, cartels routinely lace
marijuana with substances like phencyclidine, or PCP, and
methamphetamine.

Regulated distribution could help ensure that marijuana isn't combined
with dangerous substances. It could also allow regulators to require
active-ingredient listings for marijuana.

Eliminating drug cartels would be ideal. But taking any slice of their
profits is a good idea, especially if we can make a highly consumed
commodity like marijuana safer in the process.

NICKOLAS EVANS

Los Angeles, June 20, 2011