REVERSAL OF MEXICO DRUG POLICY BLAMED ON U.S.

Re "Fox Decides Not to Sign Drug Legalization Bill," May 4

In this article about a bill passed by Mexico's Congress calling for
decriminalization of possession of specified amounts of various
drugs, The Times refers to "international criticism" of the proposed
law. But who other than the United States has voiced such criticism?

The U.S. is pretty much alone in refusing to consider alternatives to
its zero-tolerance, absolute prohibitionist approach to drugs -- a
policy that has led to a higher rate of incarceration than any nation
in the world while the availability of drugs has never been greater
and the prices never lower.

We should learn from our neighbors, not demand their slavish
obeisance in pursuit of a policy that -- most particularly in the
United States -- has proved to be such a tragic failure.

Robert G. Newman, MD