Why is it that American teens age 12 - 17 said it was easier to get marijuana than Beer and Tobacco? It's nothing that common sense can't answer; because Tobacco and Alcohol are regulated by the U.S Government.
How many Cartels and gangs profit off of Alcohol? Now how many Cartels and gangs profit off of all illegal substances (Heroin, Marijuana, Cocaine)? Every Cartel and drug smuggling group there is in the world. Why is that? Because we (the Government of the US) leave the profits and regulation of these illicit substances in the Cartels hands. How can we take a blow at eliminating their profits and stopping our youth from getting access to these substances?
Legalize and regulate the drugs, put them into our hands to control, educate, prevention, treatment.