Recently President Trump threatened to invade Mexico—all in its best interest, of course—in order to smash the drug cartels that are responsible for funneling so many illegal drugs into the US. There is no doubt that the drug cartels are wealthy and vicious criminals. Apparently they have taken over major towns and provinces in Mexico and have assassinated local officials and anyone else trying to curb their “trade.” Is there any alternative to stopping the violence except escalation even to the level of invading a sovereign nation? Yes, there is: Legalize drugs and end the so-called “War on Drugs.”

Note the use of the word “personal” choice. We may personally decide to support someone who harms himself in any number of ways, including taking drugs, but no one may force “society” to accept this responsibility through taxes which, one must remember, are enforced at the point of a gun. In addition to welfare dependency, this prohibition on taxpayer funding should include rehabs centers and the like.

Freedom goes both ways. The individual has the freedom to take any risk he chooses as long as he harms no one else in the process. But the rest of society must be free from funding the consequences of the freedom of the individual to take personal risk. Legalize drugs and end public welfare for those who harm themselves by partaking in the drug culture.