U.S.-Mexico Drug Summit Fails to Acknowledge Obvious Solution to Violent Drug Cartels

[Jim Finnel]

Today, high-ranking officials from the United States and Mexico concluded a three-day conference meant to outline ways the two nations could reduce the illicit drug trade-associated violence that continues to plague the U.S.-Mexican border. Unfortunately, officials concluded their talks without making any reference to the most sensible and guaranteed strategy for reducing that violence: removing marijuana from the criminal market, and depriving drug cartels of their main source of income and strife.

"The only solution to the current crisis is to tax and regulate marijuana," said Aaron Houston, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project. "Once again, Mexican and U.S. officials are ignoring the fact that the cartels get 70 percent of their profits from marijuana. It's time to face the reality that the U.S.'s marijuana prohibition is fueling a bloodbath in Mexico and the United States."

The Obama administration has said it will provide the Mexican government with a $1.4 billion aid package to combat the Mexican drug cartels, in addition to seeking $310 million in its 2011 budget for drug enforcement aid to Mexico.

"It is illogical, at best, to continue throwing money at this failed policy," Houston said. "The government will never eliminate the demand for marijuana, but it can put an end to the monopoly drug cartels currently hold on America's largest cash crop. Lifting marijuana prohibition would take away the cartels' largest source of income and the main reason for the horrifically brutal violence perpetrated by rival drug groups."

Last year, the Mexican border city Juarez recorded 2,670 homicides. Among the growing numbers of voices calling for an end to marijuana prohibition in order to stem the violence are former Mexican presidents Vicente Fox and Ernesto Zedillo, as well as the former leaders of Brazil and Colombia.


NewsHawk: User: 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: CommonDreams.org
Author: Aaron Houston
Copyright: 2010 CommonDreams.org
Contact: Common Dreams | News & Views
Website: U.S.-Mexico Drug Summit Fails to Acknowledge Obvious Solution to Violent Drug Cartels | CommonDreams.org

 

[Caber1]

Re: U.S.-Mexico Drug Summit Fails to Acknowledge Obvious Solution to Violent Drug Car

Another 1.4 billion here, another 2.8 trillion there, and probably another few quadrillion after that.
So at what point does the selling of a nation down the river sink in?
I could maybe understand if a country had billions to spare, but the US is so far in debt that only a sucker would think that they are ever going to repay their debt.
What is the deal? Are they going to keep acting like out of control gamblers until the dollar is completely worthless?
Has anybody asked this question and has anybody ever given an answer that with a straight face you could say you believe or is the ultimate plan just to say FU and just walk away from the debt?

 

[CocoJoe]

Re: U.S.-Mexico Drug Summit Fails to Acknowledge Obvious Solution to Violent Drug Car

Are they going to keep acting like out of control gamblers until the dollar is completely worthless?

I like to think of them as drunken sailors.

 

[Siscokid]

Re: U.S.-Mexico Drug Summit Fails to Acknowledge Obvious Solution to Violent Drug Car

These people that make a bunch of money, sitting around talking about how they need a raise and vacations and more money are ruining our economy, and enabling the cartels with more power. The shit is running out of control in the white house and we're the waste bucket.

 

[Caber1]

Re: U.S.-Mexico Drug Summit Fails to Acknowledge Obvious Solution to Violent Drug Car

The trouble with that image is that there is a bit of humour/ability to blame your actions on something else.
With the gambler you have a image of deep sadness and pain as you push harder and harder hoping for the big win, but inexorably sliding towards total destruction of family and self.
I really would like to know if there is someone who has taken a sober (pardon the pun) look at where a country will end up if it continually accumulates debt.
We know where we end up when we do it.
What is the point of no return ?

 

[CocoJoe]

Re: U.S.-Mexico Drug Summit Fails to Acknowledge Obvious Solution to Violent Drug Car

I hear you! Let them with ears hear!