Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jun 2011
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2011 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mVLAxQfA
Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Author:  Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n387/a01.html

DRUG WAR ISN'T WORKING

Re Guillermo I. Martinez's June 9 column, "Monterrey must be the line 
in the sand in Mexico drug war": 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prohibition repealed in the United States, liquor bootleggers no 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. Mexico's upsurge 
in violence only began after an anti-drug crackdown created a power 
vacuum among competing cartels.

The drug war is perpetuated by the mainstream media's refusal to put 
so-called "drug-related" crime in context. 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, Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom