A couple of thoughts from our friend, motivational speaker and advocate for healthy youth, Monte Stiles. Monte Stiles served his entire professional career of 28 years as a state and federal prosecutor. For the past 24 years, as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Idaho, he supervised the Organized Crime/Drug Enforcement Task Force – a group of agents and prosecutors who investigate and prosecute high-level drug trafficking organizations, including Los Angeles street gangs, Mexican cartels, and international drug smuggling and money laundering operations. In April 2011, Monte left government service to devote all of his time to drug education, other motivational speaking, and nature photography. We appreciate his insight and thoughts as we work to prevent underage use of marijuana, particularly since Washington State has legalized recreational use for those that are 21 years and older… Thanks Monte for sharing.
1. The pot lobby claims that legalization will eliminate the black market.
This is a lie.
Drug cartels and other criminal drug trafficking organizations are not intimidated by legalization, they are emboldened by it.
The black market exists to avoid taxes, avoid regulations (rules and laws) and make money. Consequently, the black market can undercut the price of “legal” sources. “Lowest price guaranteed.”
Legalization produces massive quantities of high-grade marijuana.
The “legal” market expands the customer base for marijuana sales (more customers).
The “legal” market allows pot to be advertised, manufactured, processed, transported, distributed, and used in the open. This gives drug dealers the ability to blend in (hide in plain sight).
Because drug detection dogs can’t tell the difference between a “legal” ounce and 500 pounds in the trunk, they cannot be used to interdict the smuggling of large quantities of pot.
High grade marijuana is worth more in Ohio, New York, (anywhere else) than in Colorado.
Colorado, California, Washington, Oregon (and other legalized states) export massive quantities of high-grade marijuana (and marijuana concentrates, edibles, etc) to other states across the country.
2. The pot lobby claims that legalization and regulation will keep marijuana out of the hands of children.
This is a lie.
The latest national survey shows that Colorado has the highest marijuana use in the nation — in EVERY age category. Marijuana use in the 12-17 age category is 74% higher than the national average.
The top 21 states in the country for marijuana use by 12-17 year-olds are states that have legalized pot for “medicine” or “recreation.”
Legalization increases the availability of marijuana in society and reduces the perception of harm ——> higher use.
3. The US Department of Justice initially claimed that it was not going to enforce numerous federal laws to avoid using federal resources to “prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana.” US Attorney General Eric Holder (October 2009)
This was a lie.
Federal resources were NEVER used to prosecute pot smokers (and especially not sick marijuana smokers) unless they were also trafficking marijuana. Most federal marijuana cases involve trafficking more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of marijuana. Depending on the quality of the marijuana, and the location of its sale, 220 pounds of marijuana has a wholesale value between $250,000 and $1.3 million.
Under the guise of leaving pot smokers alone, the federal government has facilitated the growth of a massive marijuana industry (and encouraged additional states to ignore federal laws). Non-enforcement of federal laws does not change the fact that medi-pot and recreational pot states sanction the daily commission of numerous federal felonies.
4. DOJ promised to vigorously enforce federal laws relating to 8 priorities (including preventing the distribution of marijuana to minors and preventing the diversion of marijuana to other states).
Based upon the most recent statistics, DOJ is not even enforcing its priorities.