... other drug, but making marijuana illegal does establish a "gateway." The primary focus of the drug war, draining half of its resources and tying up about a third of the criminal justice system. An 80% increase in marijuana arrests since 1993 has led to 700,000 annual arrests, about 88% for possession, more than the number of arrests for murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault combined. The primary source of temptation to involve otherwise law abiding citizens in illegal activity. [This seems to flow partly from a conviction on their part that they are not doing anything wrong and that the government has been irrational and dictatorial.] Marijuana can be grown cheaply and sold for more than the price of pure gold. U.S. production has soared some 400% in 20 years, making it one of the leading cash crops in many states. Illegal marijuana is more available to most teens than ...

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