NO DRUG WAR: IT'S TERRITORIAL BATTLE

Good knowing a few local officials recognize marijuana legalization
will not quell Juarez violence. Reference to that violence as a "drug
war" is a misnomer and confuses.

Cartels are not fighting over a "drug corridor" for smuggling drugs
into the U.S. There are millions of such corridors through, over,
under and around a porous 2,000-mile border. Why fight over one!

Cartels fight over territory within Mexico on which to conduct their
domestic criminal activities. Drug distribution is only one of many
cartel crimes. It's a turf war, not a drug war.

Within Mexico, the victimization of innocent Mexicans is probably far
more profitable than domestic drug sales. Any Mexican with a job,
business, profession, savings and/or property is subject to extortion,
kidnapping, robbery, rape, etc.

Cartels would simply offset the loss of marijuana sales in the USA
with increased activities in these non-drug crimes in Mexico and the
USA.

Such non-drug crimes more directly prey on innocents and have been exploited
little in the USA. Remember: cartels/gangs have over 250 established
operations throughout the USA.

Legalize marijuana?

Alcohol kills more people in the USA daily than there are people
murdered in Mexico annually. Let's criminalize alcohol.

Ty Tyler

West El Paso