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They're already serious about those other drugs, and the fact that marijuana is illegal actually helps them distribute those other drugs because so many smoke pot that the distribution networks for it reach every corner of America. Most of these other drugs just piggy back into your town on top of the marijuana. Pot smokers end up getting offered these drugs by the same people that sell them pot. If we regulate production and sales of marijuana and have it sold through licensed shops pot smokers will be far less likely to be offered these other drugs and these cartels will have lost one of the best ways they have to get these drugs out to end consumers.

According to our government, about 90% of the cocaine consumed in this country comes through Mexico, is supplied by these organizations. They're also supplying most all the meth and heroin consumed here. They are serious about these drugs. But there is only a limited demand for them. Americans consume more marijuana than all these other illegal drug combined. The black market for illegal drugs is mostly a black market for marijuana. These other drugs are expensive and profit margins are high, but most of the money is coming from marijuana. According to the ONDCP, about 62% of their gross proceeds from drugs bound for the U.S. comes from marijuana. They gross about %28 of gross proceeds comes from the next biggest seller, cocaine, but that must first be purchased and smuggled from South America before they bring it here. They don't produce it like they produce the marijuana. The drug czar, John Walters, says marijuana is the “bread and butter,” “the center of gravity” for Mexican drug cartels. Taking marijuana from them would be a devastating blow to these organizations.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/022208dnintdrugs.3a98bb0.html