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.
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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
