drug cartels
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.
Ohio Teen Highlights the Tragedy of Inaction
History credits alcohol prohibition with giving way for the rise of the American mob. The aftermath of marijuana prohibition is eerily similar with cartels dictating Mexican politics. Unfortunately the situation for our southern neighbors is even more out of control as governments in Central and South America are unable to end the extreme violence. The …continue reading