[PowderMonkey]

"What's so different about marijuana that delivering thirty cigarettes per day would have to cost more than $10? I'm pretty sure that's in the neighborhood of an ounce. "

You're playing Obama's game of comparing tobacco to marijuana. Apples and oranges. Everybody loves to get high. The human animal craves intoxication. Hence the "pernicious weed's" popularity, skyrocketing demand, and price. Until that changes, the WOD is an expensive lost cause. Few like tobacco because it makes your teeth yellow and makes you stink and cough up blood. Don't get me wrong. I do not oppose legalization. Just don't tell me everything is going to turn up roses and rainbows upon legalization. I spent many years as an criminal intelligence analyst dealing with organized crime. The cartels are going to grow stronger and more influential, trading knife and gun for law firms and politicians. An example of Kennedy's political corruption that isn't an example of excess government? Old Joe used his money to buy judges, aldermen, precinct captains, union goons, an ambassadorial appointment to the Court of St. James, and a senate seat for his kid leading to a presidency, all in the absence of any government control. Extralegal activity defined.

[Ken H]

Medical marijuana has been around since 1996 and is now a multi-billion dollar industry (see post #12). It's been legal for over a year for recreational use in 2 states and is doing an absolutely booming business.

So where are the cartels already?