MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS A GATEWAY DRUG POLICY

Re: "Echoes of Prohibition in nation's pot policies," Oct. 8 Vincent
Carroll column.

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 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, meth and heroin is not necessarily a good thing.

Marijuana prohibition is a gateway drug policy.

Robert Sharpe, Arlington, Va. The writer is a policy analyst for
Common Sense for Drug Policy.