[andyt]

$1:

Felipe Calderon, the Mexican president, has hinted that the United States may have to consider legalizing drugs in order to weaken the powerful cartels that have wreaked havoc in his country.

In a speech in New York, Calderon said the high demand for illegal drugs in the U.S. was a "key issue" and was "the most important source of power of the criminals."

"We are living in the same building. And our neighbour is the largest consumer of drugs in the world. And everybody wants to sell him drugs through our doors and our windows," he said. "If the consumption of drugs cannot be limited, then decision-makers must seek more solutions - including market alternatives - in order to reduce the astronomical earnings of criminal organizations."

Calderon's comments, in a speech to the Americas Society and Council of the Americas, appeared to be a call for highlevel debate in the U.S.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Mexico ... z1Yf7zYi9Q

[saturn_656]

So because Mexico lacks the ability to properly enforce laws in their own country and prosecute the cartels, the US has to alter its laws to suit what best benefits Mexico?

Yeah, right. Calderon is in la-la land.

[Bruce_the_vii]

The Economist magazine editorial position is that drugs should be legalized. The Economist is not exactly a radical rag.

The situation is dire. The other day the death toll in the Mexican drug war was in the newspaper. I believe it's 45,000 since they launched their anti-cartel war.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

So because Mexico lacks the ability to properly enforce laws in their own country and prosecute the cartels, the US has to alter its laws to suit what best benefits Mexico?

Several countries that have tried to fully legalize drugs have had enormous pressure put on them by the US. One could easily ask why should other countries not be allowed to change their laws just because the US can't defend its border or deal with the drug problem at street level?

[Curtman]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

So because Mexico lacks the ability to properly enforce laws in their own country and prosecute the cartels, the US has to alter its laws to suit what best benefits Mexico?

Yeah, right. Calderon is in la-la land.

The U.S. should end prohibition because its in everyone's best interest to end the gangsters gravy train.

[CommanderSock]

Legalizing drugs in the US won't solve Mexico's lack of employment opportunities and civil service corruption.

But it will make the world a better place in general.

[Gunnair]

PublicAnimalNo9 PublicAnimalNo9:

saturn_656 saturn_656:

So because Mexico lacks the ability to properly enforce laws in their own country and prosecute the cartels, the US has to alter its laws to suit what best benefits Mexico?

Several countries that have tried to fully legalize drugs have had enormous pressure put on them by the US. One could easily ask why should other countries not be allowed to change their laws just because the US can't defend its border or deal with the drug problem at street level?

Agreed. Legalizing pot is a no brainer though I doubt we'd see a sudden decline in gang activity. It would allow enforcement resources to be focused on other things though. The fact that the US puts pressure on us not to do this is a profound annoyance.

[Curtman]

Gunnair Gunnair:

Agreed. Legalizing pot is a no brainer though I doubt we'd see a sudden decline in gang activity. It would allow enforcement resources to be focused on other things though. The fact that the US puts pressure on us not to do this is a profound annoyance.

So is the CPC crime bill which moves us in the wrong direction.

[ShepherdsDog]

Then the gangs would focus harder on human smuggling and prostitution evn that more intensely and up the cocaine production to make up for losses from pot. the violence would continue, and likely escalate, as more and more groups fought for a smaller or other market. Mexico had gang problems and lawlessness long before the drug trade became truly problematic.

[Curtman]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

Then the gangs would focus harder on human smuggling and prostitution evn that more intensely and up the cocaine production to make up for losses from pot. the violence would continue, and likely escalate, as more and more groups fought for a smaller or other market. Mexico had gang problems and lawlessness long before the drug trade became truly problematic.

It would not. A different kind of person gets involved in kidnapping from the kind that gets involved in growing plants. Do you imagine gangsters hanging out at schools around the country recruiting kids to smuggle people?

[CommanderSock]

Curtman Curtman:

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

Then the gangs would focus harder on human smuggling and prostitution evn that more intensely and up the cocaine production to make up for losses from pot. the violence would continue, and likely escalate, as more and more groups fought for a smaller or other market. Mexico had gang problems and lawlessness long before the drug trade became truly problematic.

It would not. A different kind of person gets involved in kidnapping from the kind that gets involved in growing plants. Do you imagine gangsters hanging out at schools around the country recruiting kids to smuggle people?

The peasant farmers who grow pot/cocoa/opium leafs were never bad guys to begin with. They'll farm whatever crop makes them money and feeds their families.

It's the legions of unemployed youth you'd have to worry about.

Eastern Europe right after the fall of the USSR was a good example, I saw it first hand. The mafia exploited local businesses, promised naive village girls jobs "out west", and sold old soviet weapons for cash to other youth who needed them. The Mafia grew just fine w/o drugs.

[ShepherdsDog]

Is your ignorance a result of naïvety or are you doing some of your own product quality control? that must be some seriously wicked shit to cause that much impairment.

[Curtman]

CommanderSock CommanderSock:

The peasant farmers who grow pot/cocoa/opium leafs were never bad guys to begin with. They'll farm whatever crop makes them money and feeds their families.

That's right. They're probably well aware that growing pot/cocoa/opium isn't much different than growing corn except they make way more money. The fact that they are enabling gangsters is probably of much less concern than putting food on the table.

[CommanderSock]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

Is your ignorance a result of naïvety or are you doing some of your own product quality control? that must be some seriously wicked shit to cause that much impairment.

My shit is home grown.

[martin14]

Curtman Curtman:

CommanderSock CommanderSock:

The peasant farmers who grow pot/cocoa/opium leafs were never bad guys to begin with. They'll farm whatever crop makes them money and feeds their families.

That's right. They're probably well aware that growing pot/cocoa/opium isn't much different than growing corn except they make way more money. The fact that they are enabling gangsters is probably of much less concern than putting food on the table.

Funny how you just glaze over the rest of his post, which is also quite true.

Gangsters in the East still have to do other stuff, because
its tough to make money on drugs, still quite expensive.

I guess we just can't let anything get in the way of your personal agenda,
even when it's wrong.......