Pubdate: Thu, 20 Oct 2011 Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA) Copyright: 2011 The Press Democrat Contact: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348 Author: Robert Sharpe Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n627/a02.html AIDING CARTELS EDITOR: Mexican drug cartels are no doubt thrilled with the Obama Administration's crackdown on voter-approved medical marijuana dispensaries ("State needs to clear smoke in medical pot law," Editorial, Monday). 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 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 a good thing. Marijuana prohibition is a gateway drug policy. ROBERT SHARPE Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom