Pubdate: Thu, 20 Oct 2011 Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA) Copyright: 2011 Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact: http://newsreview.com/sacto/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540 Author: Robert Sharpe Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n624/a10.html 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 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom