Pubdate: Wed, 03 Apr 2013 Source: Houston Chronicle (TX) Copyright: 2013 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division, Hearst Newspaper Contact: http://www.chron.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198 Author: Dick Russell TIME TO END WAR ON DRUGS Regarding "Mexico must curb cartel violence" (Page B11, Sunday), the essay misses the point entirely. The only way Mexico can curb drug war violence is for the U.S. to cease the war on drugs. The drug war has been a lost cause since its inception, just as was Prohibition, and should be scrapped. Both did and have caused extreme lawlessness here and abroad for no good end. The Mafia et al. spawned by Prohibition turned to the more profitable drug trade after alcohol was legalized. We should note that at least Prohibition was sanctioned by a constitutional amendment, which brings into question the constitutionality of the war on drugs. Former president of Mexico Vicente Fox said the U.S. should legalize drugs to curb violence, and an International panel concedes the war on drugs is lost. Why can't the U.S. feds see the truth? Are too many of them earning salaries from waging the lost war and have a vested interest in keeping on spending our tax dollars on this lost cause? Dick Russell, Houston - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom