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"AMERICAN elections are watched closely in Mexico, which sends most of its exports and about a tenth of its citizens north of the border. But Tuesday's presidential contest is not the only poll that's sparking interest south of the Rio Grande. On the same day, voters in Colorado, Oregon and Washington will vote on whether to legalise marijuana-not just for medical use, but for fun and profit. Polls suggest that the initiatives have a decent chance of passing in Washington and Colorado (Oregon is a longer shot).
The impact on Mexico could be profound. Between 40% and 70% of American pot is reckoned to be grown in Mexico. According to a recent study (in Spanish) by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), a think-tank in Mexico City, the American marijuana business brings in about $2 billion a year to Mexico's drug traffickers. That makes it almost as important to their business as the cocaine trade, which is worth about $2.4 billion."
Of course, it would also deal a huge blow to the prisons industry, the DEA and local sheriffs departments, which is the main reason it hasn't happened yet.
"AMERICAN elections are watched closely in Mexico, which sends most of its exports and about a tenth of its citizens north of the border. But Tuesday's presidential contest is not the only poll that's sparking interest south of the Rio Grande. On the same day, voters in Colorado, Oregon and Washington will vote on whether to legalise marijuana-not just for medical use, but for fun and profit. Polls suggest that the initiatives have a decent chance of passing in Washington and Colorado (Oregon is a longer shot).
The impact on Mexico could be profound. Between 40% and 70% of American pot is reckoned to be grown in Mexico. According to a recent study (in Spanish) by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), a think-tank in Mexico City, the American marijuana business brings in about $2 billion a year to Mexico's drug traffickers. That makes it almost as important to their business as the cocaine trade, which is worth about $2.4 billion."
Of course, it would also deal a huge blow to the prisons industry, the DEA and local sheriffs departments, which is the main reason it hasn't happened yet.
To those special interests groups as well as the cartels who stand to lose a lot of money from legalization, I say too effin' bad!!!!! Go find a new hobby! Just because a law is in place, it does not necessarily make it a just law, or moral!
It's amusing to hear pot smokers talk about how it's such a harmless drug, but are at best oblivious or at worst indifferent to the horrible criminal activity and inhumane violence that their drug use encourages.
That being said, I'm strongly in favor of legalization even though I'm not a user. The war on drugs is a monumental failure, wasting money and resources best spent elsewhere. It's easier for kids to get drugs than alcohol.
It's amusing to hear pot smokers talk about how it's such a harmless drug, but are at best oblivious or at worst indifferent to the horrible criminal activity and inhumane violence that their drug use encourages.
That being said, I'm strongly in favor of legalization even though I'm not a user. The war on drugs is a monumental failure, wasting money and resources best spent elsewhere. It's easier for kids to get drugs than alcohol.
Your second point covers your first point, and is why prohibition is wrong in the first place. Legalize it, and take the black market out of it.
And you're right about kids being able to get the street drugs much easier than alcohol or even cigarettes. Drug dealers don't ID.
It's amusing to hear pot smokers talk about how it's such a harmless drug, but are at best oblivious or at worst indifferent to the horrible criminal activity and inhumane violence that their drug use encourages.
That being said, I'm strongly in favor of legalization even though I'm not a user. The war on drugs is a monumental failure, wasting money and resources best spent elsewhere. It's easier for kids to get drugs than alcohol.
The violence and criminal activity IS because it's ILLEGAL.
IMO the war on drugs is a waste of time, and while most people I know are either in favor of it or don't care one way or the other, I haven't seen any nationwide groundswell of opinion to legalize pot. It will be fun to watch Colorado's Amendment 64 and see what happens there.
The strongest pot grown in the world comes from the west coast of Canada - legalizing pot would do nothing as far as Mexico cartels are concerned..They would just beef up their cocaine and heroine shipments. What are you going to do them- Legalize coke and junk? What you should do is get rid of Canadian imports...if that is what you really want. The idiot chronic pot heads that think criminal profits in Mexico would be diminished are wrong in the idea that legalizing pot would be helpful...These Mexican war lords are so accustomed to huge profits that they would find other enterprises to feed their greed.
It is to late- the soft stance against criminality in Mexico displayed by American administrators has only emboldened these super rich pricks...They look at America as a debauched culture that will feed them for generations to come. Pot- booze - dope- weapons- prostitution along with the slave trade is a booming business and America is addicted to vice.
It's a left wing magazine so I tend not to agree with many of their recommendations. One of the biggest drug abuse problems we have in America now is with legal drugs. So adding another legal drug to the mix does not improve society. I say keep it legal, but just write traffic tickets for users when caught.
The Economist: Legalising marijuana in America could deal a huge blow to Mexico's drug traffickers
Not to mention how it would forever F-up our own population with the drugs.
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Go find a new hobby! Just because a law is in place, it does not necessarily make it a just law, or moral!
