U.S. SHOULD FOLLOW MEXICO BY DECRIMINALIZING DRUGS

Editor,

In a bold move, the Congress in Mexico has voted to decriminalize the
possession of small amounts of marijuana, heroin and cocaine for
personal use. The bill only awaits President Fox's signature to go into effect.

The United States should follow Mexico's lead and decriminalize
possession of drugs for personal use. The so-called war on drugs, one
of America's longest and deadliest wars, has also proven to be one of
the toughest wars to win. In effect, the war on drugs can only be won
at the expense of personal liberty.

The war on drugs has resulted in a series of laws that prohibit
individuals from exercising freedom over their own bodies. It has led
to the breakup of countless families and resulted in the
incarceration of individuals who have received long prison sentences
for relatively minor crimes.

The drug war has clogged the courts in America, facilitated
corruption on all levels within government, provided terrorists with
an easy means of raising cash and cost the American taxpayers
billions of dollars.

And, in spite of all of this, we are still no closer to winning the
drug war than we were 20 years ago.

I applaud Mexico for its boldness in making this decision, and I hope
that our own Congress will step forward and do the right thing -
follow Mexico's lead.

Emil Crawford

UNM student