If our government wanted to stop the drug cartels dead in their tracks, all it has to do is legalize what the cartels are selling. Once legalized, make people who are users responsible for themselves. If they turn into junkies do not give even one penny for rehab and discontinue welfare or other support immediately (mandatory drug tests for those on the dole). When they die in the streets due to overdoses, have the collection trucks scoop them up the next day and bring their remains to the processing plants for fertilizer or animal fodder (let our farmlands be fertilized with Pasteurized Soylent Green). The government should not be involved with such things as drug use or preventing drug use. If they want to be worthless bums, then do not elevate their worth by giving them anything. Sadly, it will never happen but it certainly would end the reign of the cartels just as the repeal of prohibition ended the reign of terror created by those who ran illegal booze. Yes, organized crime came back and flourished but how - mostly due to drugs, gambling, theft and protection and other rackets but they are not holding blazing gun battles in the streets every day (except maybe in Chicago) as they were virtually doing in the dirty thirties. Think of how the resources for Law Enforcement could be better spent fighting other crimes than fighting the war on drugs. Nancy Reagan was right with the "just say no" campaign. She was wrong though in who should say it. It is the government that should say it to those strung out on drugs when they come begging for rehab, or for free needles, or for welfare.
