LEGALIZING POT COULD HELP END DRUG CARTEL VIOLENCE

Jacob Sullum's July 30 column is right -- legal pot would be a boon to
economy. But he omitted benefits beyond taxability and jobs. It also
would deal a body blow to the Mexican drug cartels and U.S. drug
dealers whose turf battles cause unnecessary deaths.

If Proposition 19 passes in California, legalizing pot, other Western
states appear ready to swell the trend. In these recessionary times,
with every level of government desperate for more revenue yet
reluctant to raise taxes, it could become a groundswell in the
direction of sanity, given that President Richard Nixon's "War on
Drugs," begun in the '70s, has not been won and never shall be.

Meanwhile, we waste billions on all levels of jurisdiction, trying in
vain to cope with 24/7 drug traffic.

Ted Z. Manuel,

Hyde Park