PUT MURDEROUS CARTELS OUT OF BUSINESS: LEGALIZE DRUGS

"Partner With Southern Neighbors Against Drug Lords," the recent
commentary by Antonio O. Garza, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, is another
example of our government's devotion, some would say, "addiction" to
the war on drugs. The opening paragraph is designed to cause fear
specifically in New Mexicans.

It was a nice touch to mention the Espanola Valley and the heroin
problems that exist there, but the "Merida Initiative" is merely a
continuation of a failed approach and a waste of $500 million of
taxpayers' money. Neither the local fear-mongering approach, nor
claims of Garza's convictions can justify the expenditure of one
additional penny on the war on drugs.

If it were possible for government officials to step back and
objectively consider the last 30 or so years of attempts to control
drug use by interdiction of supply or through fear of incarceration
they would, by any evaluation standard, have to admit that neither
approach has worked.

There has been a continuous escalation of money and violence as a
result of these failed policies and the "Merida Initiative" is
certain to continue the trend. The stated purpose of the initial $500
million is to shore up enforcement efforts; that means more guns and
more violence.

The answer to Mexico's drug cartel problem is to put them out of
business, but that won't happen at the end of a gun. It would happen
if the U.S. legalized drugs. It is through legalizing not
de-criminalizing drugs that criminals are virtually removed from the
production, importation, and distribution of drugs for recreational use.

Is it a 100 percent cure for the problems associated with drug use?
Absolutely not, but it is a major improvement in the crime problems
associated with trafficking.

Legalized means drug production and distributions are controlled and
sales are taxed. Legalized means that instead of spending $70 billion
annually in failed efforts much of that money could be diverted to
treatment and prevention education, with plenty left over. There is
little need for the drug cartels if drugs are legalized.

Marijuana is one of the major U.S. cash crops. There is no need to
import inferior cannabis when there are so many well regarded
regional strains. Opium poppies can be grown just about anywhere.
Direct relationships with coca farmers, similar to those with coffee
growers, will provide the ingredients for cocaine. After all, where
does pharmaceutical cocaine originate?

The simple fact of the matter is that legalized, regulated, taxed
recreational drugs can be produced and distributed without involving
cartels or other criminals, and the benefits should be enormous.

There are few, if any, of us that are not affected by the prohibition
of selected drugs for recreational use. We are impacted in myriad
ways, none of which are positive, in so many aspects of our lives
that we no longer are aware of the connection.

A rational, objective approach to recreational drug use is
legalization, because that is how control of drugs is wrested from
criminals around the globe. And, criminals should not be making
important decisions about drugs -- decisions about purity, quality,
quantities, prices and consumers -- your child, perhaps?

We, as a people, are not responsible for the problems Mexico is
experiencing. Our government, with full assistance from Mexico, has
created a situation with a very simple solution. Don't send money,
eliminate the need for cartels and do the world a great service.