According to a recent Associated Press article; gang-controlled marijuana farms are increasing in number and sophistication throughout the U.S. An article on March 1st stated that Mexican gangs have taken over these mass marijuana-growing operations. It also stated that the gangs are extorting and threatening migrant laborers in order to secure a cheap labor force. There are two major problems with this article. First, it throws down the broad accusation that Mexican gangs are solely responsible for the increase in the marijuana trade. It fails to examine any other groups involved in marijuana trafficking. Secondly, it fails to propose any solutions to an increase in drug trafficking. It seems like a simple fix is staring policy makers in the face. If there is no profit in growing and selling marijuana, would anyone set up acres of farm in remote forests in order to grow it? If marijuana was legalized and regulated, the drug trade would take a serious hit and lose much of its destructive influence. Legalizing marijuana would allow state governments to set taxes on its sale, just like alcohol and tobacco. Thus instead of spending money on drug enforcement policies specific to marijuana, governments would actually be able to generate revenue. For that matter, it makes little sense that alcohol and tobacco should be legal when both have negative health effects and are addictive substances. Marijuana has health concerns associated with it, of course, but are they truly more significant than the health concerns of binge drinking and nicotine addiction? Marijuana should be legalized because it would also decrease the crime and extortion of migrant workers currently associated with the drug trafficking business. If simple regulations such as setting an age limit of 18 years old and prohibiting driving and operating heavy machinery under the influence were enacted, marijuana would be on the same playing field as alcohol and tobacco, right where it belongs. If the state truly wants to end organized crime surrounding marijuana, it should move control of the marijuana into their hands instead of waging a futile “war” to remove it from the landscape. Sensible Washington, an advocacy group, is currently circulating a petition in support of a state initiative to legalize marijuana.
|
