Dem Rep. Jared Polis calls on Congress to end marijuana prohibiti [View All]

Source: Raw Story

Dem Rep. Jared Polis calls on Congress to end marijuana prohibition

By Sahil Kapur
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 -- 12:26 pm

WASHINGTON – Speaking alongside industry advocates, U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) called Wednesday for Congress to end the prohibition on marijuana, stressing the need to reduce drug violence while hailing the medical cannabis market's capacity for growing the economy.

"Ending the failed policy of prohibition with regard to marijuana will strike a major blow against the criminal cartels that are terrorizing Americans and Mexicans on both sides of the border," Polis said at the National Press Club, in response to a question from Raw Story.

"It's been estimated that the drug cartels drive about half of their revenue from marijuana, so I think it would reduce the violence by half, and reduce the money that fuels the criminal enterprises by half."

Organized by the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), a lobbying and trade group for the industry, the event featured anti-prohibition advocates and owners of medical marijuana businesses speaking out against the burdensome federal regulations they face.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/30/dem-rep-jared-polis-calls-on-congress-to-end-marijuana-prohibition/