Pubdate: Sun, 15 May 2011 Source: Gazette, The (Colorado Springs, CO) Copyright: 2011 The Gazette Contact: http://www.gazette.com/sections/opinion/submitletter/ Website: http://www.gazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/165 Author: Robert Sharpe MMJ PROHIBITION LETHAL Is our federal government on the payroll of Mexican drug cartels? Locally grown medical marijuana generates tax revenue and, more important, takes marijuana distribution out of the hands of organized crime. The No. 1product of Mexican drug cartels is marijuana. An estimated 35,000 Mexicans have died in prohibition-related violence over the past few years. As long as cartels control distribution, marijuana consumers will be exposed to methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. Marijuana may be relatively harmless, but marijuana prohibition is deadly. Robert Sharpe, MPA, Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, DC - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake