CAUGHT BY HARM OF THE LAW

Johann Hari is right on target (Comment, 26 August). Drugs did not
spawn Mexico's crime networks. Just as alcohol prohibition gave rise
to Al Capone in the US, drug prohibition created the murderous
cartels. And this upsurge in violence began only after an anti-drug
crackdown created a power vacuum among the cartels.

The drugs war is perpetuated by the media's complicity in refusing to
put so-called "drug-related" crime in context. US politicians have
proven particularly adept at confusing the drug war's collateral
damage with drugs themselves.

Drug prohibition funds organised crime at home and terrorism abroad,
which is then used to justify increased drug-war spending. Drugs are
here to stay. Changing human nature is not an option. But reforming
harmful drug laws is an option.

Robert Sharpe, Policy Analyst,

Common Sense for Drug Policy,

Washington DC, USA