STIMULUS FOR THE CARTELS

Re "Feds and meds" by Nick Miller (SN&R Frontlines, October 13):

Mexican drug cartels are no doubt thrilled with the Obama
administration's crackdown on voter-approved medical-marijuana
dispensaries. So much for change and 2008 campaign promises to
respect states' rights. So much for jobs. The medical-marijuana
industry is one of the few job creators in the current down economy.

If [President Barack] 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,
methamphetamine and heroin is not a good thing. Marijuana prohibition
is a gateway drug policy.

Robert Sharpe policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy