HOW TO FIGHT THE WAR ON DRUGS? U.S. MUST REFORM HARMFUL LAWS

Regarding Jim Bayne's column Sunday ("Mexico has a legitimate gripe
when it comes to our drug habit"), drugs did not spawn Mexico's
organized crime networks. Just like alcohol prohibition gave rise to
Al Capone, drug prohibition created the violent drug-trafficking
organizations behind all the killings in Mexico.

With alcohol prohibition repealed in the U.S., liquor bootleggers no
longer gun each other down in drive-by shootings. It's worth noting
that Mexico's recent upsurge in violence began after an anti-drug
crackdown created a power vacuum among competing cartels. From a
political perspective, Mexican President Felipe Calderon stands to
benefit from the violence.

The drug war is perpetuated by the mainstream media's complicity in
refusing to put so-called "drug-related" crime in context. U.S.
politicians have proven particularly adept at confusing the drug war's
collateral damage. Drug prohibition funds organized crime at home and
terrorism abroad, which is then used to justify increased drug war
spending.

It's time to end this madness. Whether we like it or not, drugs are
here to stay. Changing human nature is not an option. Reforming
harmful drug laws, however, is an option, one that Congress should
pursue.

Robert Sharpe

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.