Organized crime derives about 50 percent of its income from smuggling and distributing marijuana.
We spent $15 billion on drug wars in 2010 of which over $7 billion is spent annually towards arresting and prosecuting nearly 800,000 people for marijuana offenses (2005 FBI estimate). In spite of this about 85 percent of high school seniors in the US find marijuana “easy to obtain.” This figure has not changed in the last ten years. But the use of cocaine and other hard drugs has actually declined during the same period. There is no good evidence that marijuana is a “gateway drug.”
I think we should concentrate on fighting the very real threat from substances like meth, crack cocaine and heroin, which have the potential to turn people into slaves to support their addiction. Offering treatments is essential for this.
At the same time we should change the laws about marijuana. By doing so we would cut off half the income of organized crime.
To those who oppose this change, I ask; are you really so determined to protect the income of vicious organized criminal gangs for an ineffective program with no proven benefits?
Sincerely,
Richard Steinhardt
Deer Harbor
Thx for your letter Deer Hbr neighbor. It’s exactly what my focus has been and hopefully more will think this way.
Ellen
What a well written letter, thank you I couldn’t agree more. We should be concentrating our efforts on meth-it’s so very sad that the one thing that could put a big damper on this drug is being stopped by the drug companies–
I have been watching the number of meth users grow on this island and because of their need change the fabric of our community in a very negative way.
I don’t know if raising our voices will help but it sure feels good to speak out.