LEGALIZE POT, HURT CARTELS

Re "We're part of Mexico's drug war" (Marcos Breton, Sept. 1): Marcos
Breton is right that we are part of Mexico's drug war. However, when
he says that legalizing marijuana in California would be an insult to
Mexico, he seriously misses the mark.

What do Mexican officials on the front line of that drug war say? In
December, the Wall Street Journal quoted "a senior Mexican official
who has spent more than two decades helping fight the government's war
on drugs" as saying, "Economically, there is no argument or solution
other than legalization, at least of marijuana."

He is not alone. the Journal reported: "Growing numbers of Mexican and
U.S. officials say at least privately that the biggest step in
hurting the business operations of Mexican cartels would be simply to
legalize their main product: marijuana. ("Saving Mexico," Wall Street
Journal, Dec. 26, 2009.)

Will legalizing marijuana in California eliminate the cartels
overnight? Undoubtedly not. Will it seriously hurt them if we cut
their income in half? Clearly, the answer is yes. This November, let's
seriously hurt the cartels. Vote yes on Proposition 19.

Steve Meinrath, Sacramento