DRUG LEGALIZATION

The kidnap-murder of a resident of Horizon City by a Mexican drug
cartel should spark an effort to override Mayor John Cook's veto of a
January City Council resolution recommending that the federal
government seriously study the legalization of narcotics as part of
the solution to violence in Juarez.

The resolution, with the legalization amendment, received 8-0 council
approval in January.

Here's my question: Are El Paso City Council members going to wait
until El Paso officials are gunned down by Mexican cartels before they
renew opposition to a long-failed and bloody drug crusade?

Passing their resolution over the mayor's veto will get the kind of
national attention that brings meaningful changes to drug policy. How
much closer to home does the Mexican drug war have to hit before we
wake up?

Ralph Givens

Daly City, Calif.