Pubdate: Sun, 20 May 2012
Source: Spectrum, The ( St. George, UT)
Copyright: 2012 The Spectrum
Contact: http://www.thespectrum.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.thespectrum.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2483
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n276/a02.html

CHANGE DRUG LAWS TO PREVENT VIOLENT CRIMINAL ACTIONS

Regarding your May 15 editorial, 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prohibition repealed in the United States, liquor bootleggers no 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 gun each other down in drive-by shootings. It's worth noting 
that Mexico's upsurge in violence only began after an anti-drug 
crackdown created a power vacuum among competing cartels.

Drug prohibition funds organized crime at home and terrorism abroad, 
which is then used to justify increased federal drug war spending at 
a time when states are laying off police, firefighters and teachers. 
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, however, is an option, one that Congress should pursue.

ROBERT SHARPE, COMMON SENSE FOR DRUG POLICY
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom