DRUG CARTELS

Re: March 27 commentary "America needs a plan to combat Mexico's cartels."

Regarding U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul's column, drugs did not spawn
Mexico's organized crime networks. Just like alcohol prohibition gave
rise to Al Capone, drug prohibition created the violent
drug-trafficking organizations behind all the killings in Mexico. With
alcohol prohibition repealed in the United States, liquor bootleggers
no longer gunned each other down in drive-by shootings.

Drug prohibition funds organized crime at home and terrorism abroad,
which is then used by shameless politicians to justify increased drug
war spending. It's time to end this madness. Whether we like it or
not, drugs are here to stay. Changing human nature is not an option.
Reforming harmful drug laws is an option, one that Congress should
pursue.

Robert Sharpe

Policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

www.csdp.org

Arlington, Va.