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The Walls Are Caving In: America’s Neighbors are Amending their Marijuana Policy

walls caving in

On June 22nd we at marijuana.net reported that Uruguay would be drastically altering their policy on marijuana.  Frustrated with the United State’s unwillingness to help reduce Central and South American cartel violence, Uruguay decided to take matters into their own hands and legalize marijuana.  In a stunning move the government in Uruguay government will cultivate, distribute, and regulate legalized cannabis.

Only days after Uruguay made history, Colombia has also decided to shift away from a failed drug policy.  Colombia’s Constitutional Court approved the government’s legislation that aimed to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and cocaine.  Individuals caught with less than 20 grams of marijuana and 1 gram of cocaine can be sent to psychological rehabilitation but cannot be arrested or detained.

Even if the United States federal government does not realize it, the walls appear to be caving in on our failed drug policy.  Federal inaction has prompted many of our 50 states to enact decriminalization and medical marijuana laws.  In addition, our closest geographic neighbors are also riding the reform momentum.  Besides Uruguay and Colombia, Mexico just witnessed a presidential election that revolved heavily around the issue of cartel violence.  On Sunday it was announced that Enrique Pena Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was the apparent winner.  The president elect has vowed to reduce the surging violence linked to cartel activities, though it may take some time to win over all the people as the Institutional Revolutionary Party was known to rule in brutal fashion.  Other leaders in Central and South America are also pro decriminalization, especially newly elected Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina.

The evidence of our failed war on drugs is overwhelming.  Other than an upcoming presidential election, many analysts are left wondering exactly why the United States has decided to relinquish its traditional leadership role in international politics, and has instead chosen to be reform’s largest obstacle to overcome.  As is often the case with American policy, it seems easy to ignore a problem that is not immediately a domestic threat.  However, the United States’ failure to forecast how deep the cartel violence problem would become has now compromised our own security.  The Mexican cartel has funneled money through race horses, set up a strong operational presence in Utah, and successfully dug over 75 tunnels (that we know of officially), complete with electrical lighting and ventilation.  These breaches in security represent far worse than drug smuggling, and government officials should hope that Al Queda or other terrorists do not seize on these tailor made opportunities.  Though its late in the game, the United States can recapture its leadership role and enact true marijuana reform which could eliminate the need for the Mexican Cartel’s supply and significantly reduce their funding and power.

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