CRIME NETWORKS

Drugs did not spawn Mexico's organized crime networks. Just like
alcohol prohibition gave rise to Al Capone, drug prohibition created
the violent drug-trafficking organizations blamed for all the killings
in Mexico.

With alcohol prohibition repealed in the U.S., liquor bootleggers no
longer gun each other down in drive-by shootings.

It's worth noting that Mexico's recent upsurge in violence began after
an anti-drug crackdown created a power vacuum among competing cartels.
From a political perspective, Mexican President Felipe Calderon stands
to benefit from the violence.

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

Drug prohibition funds organized crime at home and terrorism abroad,
which is then used to justify increased drug war spending. It's time
to end this madness. Whe ther we like it or not, drugs are here to
stay.

Changing human nature is not an option. We've been trying that for
decades.

Reforming harmful drug laws, however, is an option, and one that
Congress should pursue.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy