Central America
Uruguay Moving Forward With Plan To Legalize Marijuana and Combat Drug Violence
As marijuana.net noted yesterday, the escalating drug cartel violence received no mention during Monday’s presidential debate. While many of our fellow Western Hemisphere countries look to The United States for leadership on the issue, we continue to maintain our failed drug policy. Fortunately, other countries in Central and South America are considering their own alternative to the 40 year failed War on drugs.
For the last several months the Uruguay government has been discussing legalizing, regulating, and distributing marijuana. While there has been some opposition to legalization, the plan appears to be moving forward. Several government officials have made recent comments regarding the program. Uruguay Interior Minister, Eduardo Bonomi recently said “We have a progressive tradition… The negative effects of consuming marijuana are far less harmful than the outbreak of violence associated with the black market.”
Uruguay may be far along the process of altering their approach toward reducing drug war violence but they are not the only one. As the United States continues fighting the cartels in the traditional way, which involves gunfire and bloodshed, other countries now realize they will be responsible for their own safety and legislative direction. Columbia has recently decriminalized personal possession for marijuana and cocaine. Bolivia has also been attempting to decriminalize cocoa leaves.
The people of the United States are war weary after a decade of The Afghanistan conflict and the recently ended Iraq operations. In this region America has taken note of our previous mistakes and has decided on a new direction in its approach toward dealing with Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. Instead, as we saw both President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney agree to during Monday’s debate, economic sanctions have been used to put the pressure on Iran to come to the table and talk disarmament. In the modern world, economics can also be an effective weapon. While we applaud a progressive approach toward Iran, when will see the United States utilize and economic approach to stem the daily violence occurring close to home, not thousands of miles across the world. Legalization and regulation would reduce the drug cartel’s power, influence, and purpose in the western hemisphere. If marijuana were regulated and available domestically, this could crush the cartels economically.
Presidential Debate On Foreign Policy Omits International War on Drugs
Last night millions of Americans tuned in for the 3rd and final debate of the 2012 presidential election. The event was less tense than the last week’s town hall debate which the saw the candidates create an uncomfortable atmosphere. Perhaps surprisingly, the attack on the American Consulate in Libya was only briefly mentioned. The candidates did engage on some important international issues regarding Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan. However noticeably missing was much of any conversation on our South American neighbors.
The war on drugs is foreign policy area that has a much more direct impact on the lives of daily Americans. Violence over drug trafficking is out of control and the Cartels have now infiltrated and have a presence in several states including Arizona and Utah. Additionally, U.S. authorities have found underground tunnels complete with railcars that have been constructed by the Cartels that run between San Diego and Tijuana. This foreign threat could not be hitting closer to home and there has been almost no mention of the war on drugs on the national stage last night.
Failure to alter the failed course of the war on drugs has now become a decades long blunder. By electing to ignore the problem, tens of thousands have died in only a few year span. Additionally, our borders have become less secure. It is honorable that the United States is compelled to help the civilians in the Middle East, but we should not forget some of our closest allies both geographically and culturally who live in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Failure to act and amend our laws has also cost the United States money through incarcerations and court expenses while also diverting police resources from other issues.
Instead of using the last best chance to talk directly to the American people about a range of crucial foreign policy issues, the two candidates seemed satisfied by sampling falling back on their domestic economic talking points during last night’s debate. There was no mention of the European Debt Crisis, only a whisper regarding Greece’s financial meltdown, and of course the violence only miles from our border. If violence, money, and the security of this nation are important to whoever lives in the White House in January, the War On Drugs cannot afford to be an ignored issue.
Medical Marijuana Industry News July 20, 2012
Dark Knight Rises Actor Morgan Freeman Rails Against Marijuana Criminalization… Later tonight (unless you could not help yourself and already went to a 12:01 screening) excited moviegoers will be out in force to see one of the biggest movies of the year, and maybe since Heath Ledger’s joker captivated the world in 2008. The Dark …continue reading
The Walls Are Caving In: America’s Neighbors are Amending their Marijuana Policy
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.
Medical Marijuana Industry News June 22, 2012
Uruguay Looks to Legalize Marijuana In Effort to Reduce Violence and Crime…
Efforts by Central American countries to convince the United States government to reconsider their rigid stance on marijuana has proved unsuccessful. America’s demand for marijuana has lead to a rise in cartel power and violence all over Central America. Both President Obama and Vice President Biden have been hammered by criticism from leaders in the region on recent trips. Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico has been very vocal regarding how United States drug laws are having a devastating impact on Central America. Leaders in Uruguay are taking the initiative and will not wait for United States to take action at a glacial pace. Uruguay’s Defense Minister Eleuterio Fernandez Huidobro said this week that prohibition was causing “more problems than the drugs themselves.” Analysts believe this is only a start and that many nations will follow Uruguay’s lead.
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New Hampshire Governor Vetoes Bill To Legalize Medical Marijuana…
Recently New Hampshire lawmakers approved a measure that would permit medical marijuana. There has been momentum for such a program for several years as a similar measure was passed in 2009 only to be vetoed by Governor Lynch. He has done so again with the new 2012 bill however advocates and lawmakers are hoping they can gather enough votes to override the Governor’s veto. The bill passed by a wide margin in both New Hampshire’s House and Senate though it is still unclear if enough legislators would support overriding the governor’s veto.
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Two House Representatives Refuse to Let DEA Official Avoid Answering Marijuana Questions
Jared Polis (D-CO) is one of the nation’s most recognized marijuana supporters in Congress. Along with Barney Frank and Ron Paul (R-TX) Mr. Polis has certainly fought hard for marijuana patients. This week he grilled Michele Leonhart of the Drug Enforcement Administration during a Congressional hearing. As Ms. Leonhart was asked questions regarding marijuana, she seemed unwilling to elaborate as to why the federal government has marijuana classified as a schedule 1 drug. Steve Cohen (D-TN) also demanded straight forward answers from Leonhart Below you can find an excerpt of the exchange between Polis and Leonhardt:
POLIS: Is crack worse for a person than marijuana?
LEONHART: I believe all the illegal drug are bad.
POLIS: Is methamphetamine worse for somebody’s health than marijuana?
LEONHART: I don’t think any illegal drug is good.
POLIS: Is heroin worse for someone’s health than marijuana?
LEONHART: Again, all the drugs –
POLIS: I mean, either yes, no, or I don’t know. I mean, if you don’t know, you can look this up you should know this as the chief administrator for the Drug Enforcement Agency. I’m asking you a very straightforward question. Is heroin worse for someone’s health than marijuana?
LEONHART: All the illegal drugs are bad.
POLIS: Does this mean you don’t know?
LEONHART: Heroin causes an addiction that causes many problems that’s very hard to kick.
POLIS: Does that mean that the health impact is worse than marijuana, is that what you’re telling me?
LEONHART: I think that you are asking a subjective question.
Marijuana.net Will Be Attending the High Times Cannabis Cup In San Francisco this weekend…
There is no rest for the weary as marijuana.net will be taking the excitement from San Jose’s Hempcon with us to San Francisco and the 2012 High Times Medical Marijuana Cannabis Cup. If you are in the Bay Area come check us out on Saturday, Sunday, or both days. We will continue with our popular raffles and we encourage patients to learn more about which medication is right for them with a free one on one session with our strain master . We’ll also be showing off our comprehensive strain library and be providing education on the newest marijuana reform developments.
Super Tuesday filled with Highlights
While the NCAA tournament will begin later this month, another “March Madness” occurred yesterday. Super Tuesday was the largest vote to take place this year besides the actual presidential election. Ten states participated in the vote Tuesday which treated political junkies to a dramatic day and a guarantee that the race for the Republican nomination will continue.
Mitt Romney had a chance to place an almost insurmountable distance between him and Rick Santorum. Mr. Romney may not have ended the race but his 5 wins including the highly coveted Ohio, places him in great position to secure the nomination. Romney also won in Vermont, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Idaho while Santorum was victorious in North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Newt Gingrich won in Georgia, the state where he served in Congress and launched his political career, and the Alaska caucus takes two weeks to finish completely.
As the battle within the GOP waged on yesterday, there was another important news story that may have gotten lost during the frantic elections but was a big part of this Super Tuesday. Joe Biden was in Honduras to meet with many Central American leaders, including Felipe Calderon, the president of Mexico who has a firsthand look at the violence and Cartel power due in large to America’s drug policy. Calderon has already implied that the U.S. should consider a new approach as the violence in Mexico has escalated. Mr. Biden may get an earful from the struggling countries in the Central America region as they are looking for desperate help from the U.S, help that does not even need to cost money except for the paper and ink the reformed laws would be written on. Biden said on Monday that “there is no possibility” of the U.S. enacting legalization efforts. He then followed up by saying it would be worth discussing, which of course only adds to the confusion as to what the U.S. is willing to do to solve the problem.
Although the political process in the United States can often leave a bitter taste in our mouths, keeping up with current discussions and issues is still necessary in order to have any chance at reform. Besides Ron Paul (who appears to have little chance of securing the GOP nomination) every candidate including the president seems ready to battle with marijuana advocates and ignore the desperate need for economic and medical reform, all of which marijuana can provide. We hope the community makes it a goal to focus on the next Super Tuesday in 2016, where marijuana reform should be front and center or hopefully it will be an issue we have already moved past.
http://youtu.be/EQwrB1vu74c