Letter: U.S. drug policy spurs Mexican violence

There will be no solution to the drug cartel violence in Mexico so long as the United States maintains a brain-dead drug prohibition policy that has failed for more than 90 years.

It is time to relearn the lesson of alcohol prohibition – namely that it is impossible to prevent people from using drugs that they like.

The results of alcohol prohibition were violent bootlegger activity, corruption of police and public officials and a breakdown in law and order while utterly failing to reduce alcohol use one iota. They had more speakeasies at the end of alcohol prohibition than there had been saloons when they began.

Law enforcement found it impossible to suppress the criminal activities of Al Capone and his ilk. Repeal finally put an end to the bombings and shoot outs without ever firing a shot.

Until we recognize that the same principles are operating because of current drug policies, there will be no solution to violence in Mexico.

Ralph Givens

Daly City