Pubdate: Wed, 05 Oct 2005
Source: Arizona Daily Wildcat (AZ Edu)
Copyright: 2005 Arizona Daily Wildcat
Contact:  http://wildcat.arizona.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/725
Author: Tim O'Hair
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1571/a03.html

LEGALIZATION WOULDN'T CHANGE LATIN AMERICA SITUATION

I found interesting arguments from David Shultz, who said that
legalization of marijuana would impact Latin America ("Blame drug
suppliers, not users"). The question comes down to this: Would the
"horrifically bloody civil war in Latin America," as Shultz claims,
get worse than it already is because of legalization?

Lets consider the Latin American impact, and take in the consideration
that legitimate businesses would not survive with legalization because
Latin America could control prices, which I do not agree with, but to
remain consistent with the article. If that were the case, how would
legalization increase the funding to the Latin American civil war from
what it already is?

Shultz catches himself because even with legalization, and marijuana
being bought from Latin American drug cartels, the amount of money
paid for marijuana would go down, it would only be a "fraction of the
price," hence the amount of money that the drug lords could take in
would only be a fraction of what they get right now.

Shultz is saying that it would become a problem because people would
only buy illegally, but isn't that what they do now with it being illegal?

I believe this is where the confusion lies.  Shultz writes, "The price
of legal marijuana would then skyrocket compared to its illegal
counterpart," but it would be an illusion.  It would look like the
United States would be charging high prices when the reality is it
would remain the same. The change would be the drop in prices the
illegal drug traders have to accomplish to meet the supply and demand
of the United States and stay in business. Let's be realistic, if both
sold pot for what it's sold for today, users would choose to buy
legally to avoid the risk and ensure quality.

I find it hypocritical of Schultz to claim that the reason marijuana
should be illegal is because of the detrimental effects to Latin
America, when the truth is this situation really would be improved
with legalization, whether it was purchased from the cartels or from
legal sources within the United States.

Tim O'Hair

Sacramento State University