Legalizing pot could help end drug cartel violence

Jacob Sullum's July 30 column is right -- legal pot would be a boon to economy. But he omitted benefits beyond taxability and jobs. It also would deal a body blow to the Mexican drug cartels and U.S. drug dealers whose turf battles cause unnecessary deaths.

If Proposition 19 passes in California, legalizing pot, other Western states appear ready to swell the trend. In these recessionary times, with every level of government desperate for more revenue yet reluctant to raise taxes, it …