Pubdate: Sun, 20 Nov 2011
Source: Observer, The (UK)
Copyright: 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited
Contact:  http://www.observer.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/315
Author: Robert Sharpe

WESTERN LEADERS MUST BACK COLOMBIA'S COURAGEOUS STAND ON DRUGS

President Santos's call for a new approach to drugs must be supported 
wholeheartedly

Spineless politicians abound on both sides of the Atlantic. In the 
2008 elections in the United States, more residents in Massachusetts 
voted in favour of a referendum on decriminalising cannabis than 
voted for candidate Barack Obama. With a record 50% of Americans now 
in favour of cannabis legalisation, cannabis is polling better than 
the president. Yet Obama has reneged on a campaign promise to respect 
states' rights with regards to medical cannabis legislation. At a 
time when local governments are laying off police, firefighters and 
teachers, a US government crackdown on medical cannabis dispensaries 
is in full force.

Medical cannabis is supported by an overwhelming majority of 
Americans. This means politicians such as Obama are either beholden 
to the prison-industrial complex or on the payroll of cartels. 
Mexican drug cartels are no doubt thrilled with the clampdown on 
medical cannabis. If the US government destroys the domestic medical 
cannabis industry, international drug cartels will move in to meet 
demand and reap the profits. Replacing domestic growers with 
organised crime groups that also sell cocaine, meth and heroin is not 
a good thing.

Robert Sharpe

Policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington DC
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom