March 5, 2009 4:29PM 

# Drug Prohibition’s Role in Mexico’s Violence 

By Cato Editors 

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Since January 2007 there have been more than 6,800 drug-war related deaths in Mexico, and Mexican drug cartels continue to expand their operations in American cities. Washington’s response has been to expand its prohibitionist efforts with the Mérida Initiative, a U.S.­Mexico anti-drug-trafficking program. Historically, however, prohibitionist policies have had little success in reducing the flow of drugs. [Ted Galen Carpenter](https://www.cato.org/people/ted-galen-carpenter), Cato’s Vice President for Defense and Foreign Policy Studies, suggests a new strategy must be tried.

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[Defense and Foreign Policy](https://www.cato.org/defense-foreign-policy) 

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