Why does our government endorse the Mex. drug cartels instead of the people? Cartels have more money?

I agree, the DEA is a failure. California just released criminals due to overcrowding because they bust non-violent offenders. We don't agree on a lot but I hope this shows my unbiased nature. The Mexican Drug Cartels have such power that the only reason we ignore them is because we want them to keep doing what they are doing.