LEGALIZING DRUGS 'ABSURD,' CALDERON SAYS

Agence France-Presse

Felipe Calderon, the Mexican President, denounced as "absurd"
yesterday calls to legalize drugs in Mexico as a way to counter the
gang violence ravaging the nation.

"If they are not legalized in the world, or at least the United
States, it's absurd because the price of drugs is not determined by
Mexicans, it's determined by consumers in Los Angeles, New York,
Chicago or Texas," he said.

His comments came as the legalization debate grew in Mexico, and
officials blamed drug-related violence for 28,000 deaths in 31/2
years. Several opposition parties have called for marijuana to be
decriminalized as a way of curbing the massive wealth of drug
traffickers. Vicente Fox, a former Mexican president, also supports
legalization.