MEXICO CITY — President Felipe Calderon said he would consider a debate on legalizing drugs Tuesday as his government announced that more than 28,000 people have been killed in drug violence since he launched a crackdown against cartels in 2006. […]
Calderon said he has taken note of the idea of legally regulating drugs in the past.
“It’s a fundamental debate in which I think, first of all, you must allow a democratic plurality (of opinions),” he said. “You have to analyze carefully the pros and cons and the key arguments on both sides.”Three former presidents — Cesar Gaviria of Colombia, Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico and Fernando Cardoso of Brazil — urged Latin American countries last year to consider legalizing marijuana to undermine a major source of income for cartels. And Mexico’s congress also has debated the issue.
But Calderon has long said he is opposed to the idea, and his office issued a statement hours after the meeting saying that while the president was open to debate on the issue, he remains “against the legalization of drugs.”
In proposing the debate Tuesday, analyst and writer Hector Aguilar Camin said, “I’m not talking just about marijuana … rather all drugs in general.”
It’s not a call for legalization by Calderon, but it’s a recognition of basic facts — you have to discuss all the options. You can’t bury your head in the sand, cover your ears and repeatedly scream “Legalization is not in my vocabulary.”
In response to President Calderon’s call for a debate on drug legalization, Norm Stamper, a 34-year veteran police officer who was Seattle’s chief of police and is now a speaker with the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) and an adviser to the Just Say Now campaign, called on President Obama to join the debate on legalizing marijuana:
“President Calderon’s call for a debate on legalization is a big step forward in putting an end to the war raging in Mexico and along our borders. More than 28,000 people have been killed by Mexico’s drug cartels since 2006 – including 1,200 in July, the deadliest month yet in this drug war.
“Legalizing marijuana is the most sensible approach to stopping this border war. Cartels thrive on marijuana prohibition. Around 70% of the cartels’ profits come from the illegal sale of marijuana, which they turn around to buy guns that have killed thousands of Mexicans and that terrorize police on America’s streets.
“Just Say Now welcomes President Calderon to this debate. We hope that President Obama will join this debate to end the war on marijuana.â€
Ow … That’s a cruel tease of a headline. It popped up in my RSS feed and my first thought was: Oh my goodness! Seriously? For his birthday President Obama has given the nation such an amazing present?? *sigh* baby steps. I can’t for the life of me imagine the cartels being ok with legalization.
Here in the US of A, debate is not in the President’s vocabulary. “I’m against it”, he said, as if this was the end of discussion. What an insult to the intelligence and dignity of the American people.
Since the military coup, everything is a war and everything is an order. WHat a disgraceful bunch of sheeple, unworthy of being anything but slaves.
Isn’t he too busy dissing America to do anything useful?
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Demand Holy Weed. In my case, Holier-Than-Thou-Weed.
Blessed is the weed. Cursed is the-war-on-weed.
All I can say is..Bring on the November cali vote and the elections.
Its up to the people, these people in power will not do it without being shoved.
One state at a time sweet Mary,one state at a time,
We will take our rights and liberty back for the people,one state at a time.
With all the industries and federal bureaucracies that depend on prohibition of marijuana it will be the only way,until the cost of maintaining that prohibition costs them more than it is worth.
It already costs America more than it is worth and we need to show them in Nov,and not just on Prop 19 but at the elections,NO INCUMBENTS.
I predict that Prop 19 will pass with 70% or more voters voting for the initiative and many of them will not be tokers,but citizens tired of spending money on failed policies.
Thud!
Let me guess… it must be nearing time for another election!
Gawd, it’s amazing the multitude of scenarios that runs through one’s mind when you read ONE WORD. LMAO Now I gotta tear the keyboard apart tomorrow and clean it again, ALLAN.
NZ
“Let me guess… it must be nearing time for another election!”
More like an economics summit. If Mexico legalizes first they will be the first country up with the most product ready for market. Harvest is just around the corner and probably a bumper crop,they may as well be ready to move into the open market. They will be competing with the emarald triangle,Jamaica,Holland and Columbia on an open market If they can produce good bud cheaper,then bring it on. After all,Calderon does not intend to end the marijuana market,he just wants control of it.
The US would never allow Mexico to unilaterally legalize anything absent a huge shift in the political landscape around drugs. Such a shift, however, does seem to be developing. Long may it run.
I recall when we wouldn’t even let them buy 10K Dilaudid for their legit pain needs (Mexico was in an untreated-pain crisis at the time) and the threat to Australia that, if they went ahead with plans for a heroin-maintenance trial (HAT), which was well-along and ready to go, that we would stop purchasing thebaine from Tasmania’s pharmaceutical poppy growers which were that island’s economic savior. Louis Freeh went over to deliver the threat personally. God only knows what we threatened Canada with when they were considering their HAT trial (NAOMI) which they bravely went ahead with anyway.
I suspect Calderone’s statement is merely evidence of a Clinton-like gambit in triangularization of the opposition and/or an effort to modify his “legacy.” It will be interesting to see how it develops. How much longer can they hold out under this onslaught of gore?
@claygooding “One state at a time sweet Mary,one state at a time,”
Did you know that the Lawrence Welk show covered that song back when it was on the charts? A ‘modern spiritual’, I bullshit you not. Just search Youtube for “Lawrence Welk Toking”. OK, ok, I’ll make it easy for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye3ecDYxOkg
BTW some of the best cannabis I’ve had in my life came from Mexico. They called it Acapulco Gold back in the day. Oaxaca sent up some primo goods then as well. If today’s product is really 20 times better than that I’ll eat my hat. Heck, I’ll eat the hat if today’s is even marginally better.
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@Duncan – Acapulco Gold was the first weed I bought in California (Santa Clara) back in 1973! I had the “didn’t get a buzz” phenomena the first joint I had, but every subsequent one was sweeeet! It’s kind of strange – I was only 14 at the time, which seems SO YOUNG now! Oh, and the cost? Ten freaking bucks for a “lid” (about 4 fingers in a baggie – it wasn’t even weighed back then!). Man…for those days and that strain to reappear would be sooo sweet!
☮
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