Mexico Decriminalizes Drug Possession-Should U.S. Follow?
Mexico enacted a law decriminalizing possession of marijuana (and other drugs) yesterday, according to the Associated Press.
The new law defines 5 grams of marijuana as a “personal use” amount. People caught in possession of less than that amount will face no penalty until their third offense, at which point the law requires them to enter addiction treatment. The change is part of the Mexican government’s efforts to fight a very hot war against drug cartels along its border with the U.S. By decriminalizing marijuana, Mexico seeks to free up law enforcement resources that have been wasted arresting non-violent marijuana users.
A similar law, proposed during former president Vicente Fox’s administration, was defeated following significant opposition from President George W. Bush. We have not seen the same pressure from the Obama administration this time around. In fact, current Mexican president Felipe Calderón has used this new law to send a message north about the need for a similar debate to take place on our side of the border. Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan, for example, called for such a debate to be taken seriously by the U.S. in April, and the Mexican Senate scheduled discussion of the new law to coincide with President Obama’s first trip to Mexico.
Taking these events in context — especially considering the chorus of high-profile former Latin American leaders calling for the U.S. to change its heavy-handed drug policies — a clear message emerges: our neighbors are paying a heavy price for our marijuana laws, which account for 70% of the cartels’ profits.
In a sense, we’ve been exporting the worst consequences of prohibition to our southern neighbor by forcing marijuana to remain a business for thugs and criminals. Just like alcohol prohibition, marijuana prohibition causes more harm than the drug itself. The violence in Mexico has forced its government to face that reality; our politicians should pay close attention.
H.R. 2943, legislation in Congress that seeks to remove federal penalties for marijuana possession, is currently in committee. Please visit mpp.org/federal-action to ask your member of Congress for his or her support.
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The fear propaganda and outright lies that extend the drug war , the Iraq war and all policies of aggression are distracting diversions to take our minds off these morally bankrupt, servants of tyranny's waste of our precious lives and resources. True patriots, warriors for good over evil, help save the American dream of self-government; free of big government tyranny and oppression.
Cannabis oil is the cure all our ancestors used and did not let us all be brainwashed into forgetting. The debate over medical marijuana or cannabis is really a scandalous controversy over whether this very safe, effective, easy-to-grow herb should be allowed to compete with expensive pharmaceuticals with side effects guaranteed to make life no longer worth living.
Unless the medication is approved by a physician within federal guidelines, drug warriors are against anyone feeling good, being at ease, being pain free. The people believe in self-government and self-medication. Warriors can get their adrenaline rush making us all safer, catching violent predators! Harassing the sick and dying is an un-American activity.
They have already allowed the cartels to exist for another year,by not legalizing last spring and allowing us to grow our own for harvesting this year.
Even at that,there are more people growing their own this year than ever before,and the cartels are moving their growers in-country to bypass the added border security. By delaying the end of the prohibition,our drug warriors are insuring their piece of the budget so they can run around raiding grow ops that they created and continue to support.
The anti-drug cartels also depend on prohibition for their funding,and too many government supported programs and bureaucratic organizations that depend on marijuana remaining illegal.
Decriminalizing tiny amounts of drugs will have no effect
on the drug cartels. The U. S. and Mexico need to fully
legalize all drugs. Not to solve our drug problems but to
dramatically reduce our crime problem.
You are, and sadly so, correct in your assertion that decriminalizing will affect the cartels. The drugs are still illegal, and they come from illegal sources.
Until the supply is moved from the criminal element to the business taxation model nothing will change . However, when the supply is moved to legitimate business, the entire underground industry collapses.
Unless the money hungry legislators keep the taxes and retail prices at less than half the street price today,the cartels will continue to operate and still won't be paying taxes. They already have their marketing and distribution logistics in place,while we have to start from scratch.
When pot is legalized,the cartels will continue operating until we have enough people growing their own to reduce the demand by
supplying our own. There is just too much money involved for them too quit.