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Why Relaxing Marijuana Laws is More Dangerous than Legalization By Rizzuto Wed Oct 21, 2009 - It’s a little known fact that there have been many Conservative champions of the decriminalization of Marijuana. From Milton Freidman to William F. Buckley, and now Kathleen Parker on the pages of The Washington Post, the simple application of free market principals demands that we end the prohibition of marijuana. It’s obvious that the societal benefits of keeping it prohibited are no longer, and arguably never were, worth the costs. However, Parkers cheering at the relaxing of existing laws are misplaced in my opinion. In fact, relaxing existing laws is not only a poor answer to the problems of prohibition, in some ways it’s even more dangerous. Having a doctor’s clearance for the use of medical marijuana gives a pass for the consumer, but leaves vague the rules for those who supply marijuana in any quantity. The relaxing of laws might encourage consumption, but it will do little for the supply side. The increase in consumption will undoubtedly lead to an increase in demand that has little chance of being adequately satisfied through domestic production. Domestic production can only be increased on any significant level by a considerable investment in the growth of marijuana. With a government that seems fickle in its enforcement of currently existing laws, who’s going to invest thousands, or even millions of dollars on a crop that is still on the margins of legality? Who’s going to invest in a crop that can end up being confiscated and burned depending on political conditions? People with very poor money management skills I suppose, or pot smokers (two segments of the population that share curiously broad intersection.) The truth is that the domestic supply shortfall is going to have to be met by importation. As of right now, there is one category of importer that has a virtual monopoly on the importation of drugs, and that’s South American narco-gangs. These violent cartels can be expected to use the profits that will result from the increased demand for their product and a reduction in costs associated with eluding Federal authorities, to further bankroll corrupt political factions in their native countries that are sympathetic to their cause. The only thing worse than a bad law is a bad law that is selectively enforced. Allow the states to decide the rules regarding the growth and consumption of marijuana. Legalization is the only sustainable solution; not to mention common sense.
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