DEA Mexico Chief Reyes Lists Reasons To End Marijuana Prohibition

Presently, the United States Federal Government sweepingly includes marijuana (or cannabis) in its ongoing War on Drugs. This classification is arguably a relic of the politically-based vilification of cannabis that began in 1937, and seems to have little to do with actual dangers inherent in the substance itself. Many reasoned assertions have been made to promote legalization and regulation of cannabis, but few speak as loudly as these statistics recently given by one of the Nation's top drug warriors, battling the growing drug-violence in Juarez, Mexico.

During an interview with Al Roker, on his recent MSNBC television, special Marijuana, Inc., DEA Mexico and Central America Chief Raphael Reyes shared some thought provoking facts. He said that fully 60% of the Drug Cartel profits come from the sale of cannabis.

Reyes went on to say that:

1. “Marijuana is the cartel's cash cow. Cheap to grow, and extremely profitable.”
2. “The tried and true method of making money has always been marijuana. It is what allows them to further their basis of operations into other drugs, for example cocaine, heroin and meth-amphetamine. They are all fueled by the proceeds generated through marijuana.”
3. “The US consumer is their #1 customer.”

Put in another way, if the United States, legalized, taxed and regulated the sale of cannabis, the drug cartels simply could not sustain their operations either in United States or in Mexico.

So, while it may appear to some to be a radical idea, in fact, taxation and regulation of cannabis would pull the plug on the cartels, and save the billions of dollars Reyes says are presently spent on attempts to eradicate marijuana trafficking. More importantly, regulation and taxation would save the lives of police officers that are being, as Reyes points out, kidnapped, tortured and murdered by drug cartels in their vigorous and brutal resistance to these efforts.

Given the escalating violence and lack of success in the seemingly endless battle against drug trafficking, we might take this old aphorism to heart: Regulation is law and order. Prohibition is a free-for-all.