In a new general reader—Dealing Death and Drugs: A Rational Argument for an End to the Prohibition on Marijuana—Beto O’Rourke and Susie Byrd, two El Paso, Texas politicians, call for the federal government to end the prohibition against marijuana as a means to cripple the drug cartels that are destabilizing El Paso’s sister city, Juárez, and the rest of Mexico. Warring drug cartels in Juárez have been fighting for control of the rich vein that leads to the world’s largest market for illegal drugs, the United States. Since 2008 when the cartels started fighting, over 9,000 people have been killed, making Juárez the most dangerous city in the world.

O’Rourke and Byrd explore the costs and consequences of marijuana prohibition. They argue that marijuana prohibition has created a black market so profitable that drug kingpins are billionaires, and drug control doesn’t stand a chance. Using Juárez as their focus, they describe the business model of drug trafficking and explain why this illicit system has led to the terror and brutality that has brought Juárez to its knees. Their position: the only rational alternative to the War on Drugs and the best of a number of bad options for their community is to end the current prohibition on marijuana.

Dealing Death and Drugs is a great monograph for a freshman or sophomore level political science course.  Written for a general audience, and offered by two politicians writing from a city on the frontlines of America’s War on Drugs, the book offers a fresh perspective on the age old question, Should marijuana be legalized? (It’s an angle you won’t even find in Opposing Viewpoints…) It explores in detail what the Drug War is doing to a specific Mexican community and the effect that has on an American community that is frequently ignored by Washington.

Beto O'Rourke is a fourth generation El Pasoan and businessman. In September 2011, Beto announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination for El Paso's seat in the U.S. Congress. He recently completed his second term on the El Paso City Council and continues to run Stanton Street Technology Group, the web-development company that he co-founded.

Susie Byrd is serving her second term on the El Paso City Council. Before running for City Council, she served as a top aide to Mayor Ray Caballero. Susie Byrd served as campaign manager and then top aide for Mayor Ray Caballero and co-edited The Late Great Mexican border: Reports from a Disappearing Line (Cinco Puntos Press, 1996).