Mexico is the biggest supplier of marijuana to the United States, and the illegal drug trade is tearing Mexico apart.

Mexico has been wracked by murders connected to the drug trade. Last year, it suffered more than 6,500 drug-related killings, triple the number in 2007. And 2010 looks worse. As of mid-March, more than 2,000 people have died in drug-related homicides – which puts Mexico on pace for more than 10,000 such deaths this year. That’s more than one every hour.

The linked article (from the Chicago Tribune) argues that California’s upcoming ballot initiative legalizing marijuana would be the worst nightmare of the Mexican drug cartels.

For the terrible numbers from Mexico at a glance, see here.