MEXICO'S ILLEGAL DRUG PROBLEMS AND OUR OWN ARE TIED TOGETHER

Kudos to Ms. O'Grady for pointing out some uncomfortable truths that
the federal government and many of our elected officials are afraid
to admit: The drug war is failing and prohibition has led to
thousands of violent deaths in Mexico.

It is shocking to think that more Mexicans died last year due to drug
prohibition than did American soldiers in Iraq. There is nothing in
the coca or marijuana plant that causes these deaths. Rather, it is
prohibition that creates a profit motive that people are willing to
kill for. Remember, when alcohol consumption was illegal in this
country we had Al Capone and shootouts in the streets. Today, no one
dies over the sale of a beer.

It is time for an honest and open international debate about
controlling, taxing and regulating illegal drugs so we can find an
exit strategy from this unwinnable war.

Tony Newman

Drug Policy Alliance

New York