Pubdate: Sun, 28 Jun 2015
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2015 The Arizona Republic
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Alvin Arnold

WHY IGNORE THE CARTELS WHEN WE DEBATE MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION?

Cautiously avoiding deadly contact with the third rail, we are shy 
about any mention of Mexican cartels in the context of marijuana.

Opponents of legalization hypocritically argue half-truths and lies 
about the evils of the weed, leaving us with the false impression 
advocates are attempting to introduce something to the public that is 
already supplied by the cartels.

Most criticisms of the drug are yet to be substantiated. And we 
complain about the rising expense of educating our children as if 
decent schools were an unaffordable luxury limited only to the 
comfortable rich. We should ask ourselves why we adamantly refuse to 
accept an obvious financial solution, readily available.

Because of an apparent danger of confronting the cartels, we 
persistently choose arguments about the consumption of a weed. A 
significantly large portion of our population, however, has clearly 
indicated, legal or illegal, marijuana is its choice for a recreational drug.

Alvin Arnold

Wickenburg
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