Pubdate: Wed, 24 Sep 2014
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2014 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n758/a06.html

POT LAWS AID CARTELS

Kevin Sabet just doesn't get it ("Like Big Tobacco, Big Marijuana will 
drive addiction," Sept. 19). Big Marijuana already exists in the form of 
Mexican drug cartels. These are ruthless people who cut off heads to 
resolve business disputes, sell drugs to anyone regardless of age and 
have a vested financial interest in providing cocaine, methamphetamine 
and heroin to consumers.

Like it or not, marijuana is here to stay. The choice is clear. We can 
collect taxes on legal marijuana, or we can keep it illegal and 
subsidize violent drug cartels. Punitive marijuana laws have little, if 
any, deterrent value. The sky is not falling in Colorado. There is no 
societal benefit to having consumers continue to purchase untaxed, 
unregulated and potentially unsafe marijuana from criminals.

Robert Sharpe, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, 
D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Matt