CARTEL VICTIMS

I UNDERSTAND the often flippant remarks about the legalization of
marijuana, but here in Texas it's a very serious matter concerning the
blood of innocent victims. Mexican government estimates are that 61
percent of murderous cartel revenue comes from marijuana.

The National Academy of Sciences' 1982 report pointed out that if some
states could voluntarily control their own policy, without federal
interference, any who chose legalization would provide invaluable
information to all states. That US tradition is what states should be
instructing federal legislators to allow, which Representative Barney
Frank is working toward.

Jerry Epstein

Houston

The writer is president of the Drug Policy Forum of Texas.