To Stop the Cartels, Mexico Strongly Considering the Legalization of ALL Drugs

[BADecker]

To Stop the Cartels, Mexico Strongly Considering the Legalization of ALL Drugs

This week, Olga Sanchez Cordero, the future interior minister of incoming Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, announced that the government is strongly considering the decriminalization of all drugs.

Sanchez Cordero said at a seminar that she has full permission from the incoming administration to do whatever it takes to stop the cartel violence in the country, and ending the drug war is at the top of the list.

"On the subject of decriminalizing drugs, Andres Manuel told me, and I quote: 'Carte blanche. Whatever is necessary to restore peace in this country. Let's open up the debate,'" Cordero said.

"What no one can deny with hard data is that, at least in the past 10 years, the Mexican government has been incapable of stopping violence and responding to it with institutional mechanisms," she added.

The steady increase in violent crime over the past few decades is directly correlated with the escalation of the drug war. As we saw during the times of alcohol prohibition, when you ban an inanimate object, you create an incentive for people to get involved in the black market distribution of that object. Since there is no accountability or means of peaceful dispute resolution within the black market, buyers and sellers are forced to resort to violence as their sole means of handling disagreements.

Eventually, this violence spills over into the everyday world and affects everyone's lives. No one could imagine Budweiser and Miller Lite in a back alley gunfight, but less than a century ago, during alcohol prohibition, distributors of the drug were involved in shootouts on a regular basis—just as drug gangs are today. Of course, all of this violence came to an immediate end when alcohol was legalized. However, it was not long before the establishment found a new crusade in the drug war, which allowed them to continue the same policy, just with different substances.

In 2001, Portugal became the first country in the world to end the drug war within its borders, and in the short time since, the country has seen a radical improvement in their society. In regards to drugs, they actually now have less of a negative impact on society in Portugal than they did prior to the end of prohibition. There are now fewer drug-related deaths, fewer children getting a hold of drugs, and fewer people doing drugs in general.

Read more at https://thefreethoughtproject.com/to-stop-the-cartels-mexico-strongly-considering-the-legalization-of-all-drugs/.

[seoincorporation]

I haven`t seen the "All drugs" statement for the moment, but AMLO is openly speaking about the legalization of recreative Marijuana in order to help to stop all that is going on in here.
Well, if done, probably the Caribbean will become the next mary-paradise (which is already, to be honest), as well as Baja and other states with a lot of tourism.
If the narco and cartels begin to pay taxes, for sure Mexico will become one of the richest countries in the world!!

Let`s wait and see. The new president is taking his sit the next December. Now the situation is quite dramatic in here, there is too much violence and many people is dying every single day, thousands in this mere year (90 assassinations per day is quite a big number). Besides, to walk in the street is becoming dangerous, we can sense it every single day in our mexican`s lives.

Now, the narco is not the only issue. Impunity is. You can kill someone and get away with it with no consequences. So let`s wait `till AMLO takes the sit and see what`s going to happen.

[The_Tick]

The drug is definitely a huge issue to tackle. I want to point out though that it is weird that the title of this article talks about legalizing drugs, while the actually article is talking about decriminalization. Legalization and decriminalization are not the same things. This article uses Portugal as an example. In 2001, Portugal decriminalized all drugs. That doesn't mean that it's not illegal. "If someone is found in the possession of less than a 10-day supply of anything from marijuana to heroin, he or she is sent to a three-person Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction, typically made up of a lawyer, a doctor and a social worker. The commission recommends treatment or a minor fine; otherwise, the person is sent off without any penalty. A vast majority of the time, there is no penalty." (https://mic.com/articles/110344/14-years-after-portugal-decriminalized-all-drugs-here-s-what-s-happening)

I really don't see how these examples relate. As far as I know, Portugal never had a war with narco dealers, like they have in Mexico. Portugal had a big problem with drug use. I don't think the problem in Mexico is drug use so much as drug production and trafficking. Portugal's law wouldn't fix that problem. Am I missing something?

[BADecker]

Seems to me that the drug war in Mexico is related to the drug war in the U.S.

You can't stop people from doing anything without taking their freedom away. If you give freedom to the people, or don't, some of them will always use drugs. The drug war is taking freedom away from U.S. people, but Mexico, being not as formally free in the first place (although freer in some ways, really), is much easier of a place to use to set up U.S. people with drug problems, especially if there are drug laws.

The whole idea is to take away the drug laws so that there isn't any basis for drug wars. I would suggest to do this for the U.S., because drug wars don't stop people from using drugs. They only make money for the prison housing people, and others, in a variety of ways.

The thing governments should do is, strongly advertise 2 things:
1. the dangers of drugs, along with the limits free people can use and remain safe;
2. the fact that if anyone harms someone after using drugs, or damages his property, when convicted, it will be the wrongdoer's punishment to repay the victims 4 times over, even if he has to labor in prison for his whole life to pay it back.

All the drug war does is to protect the wealthy, and make some of them wealthier, while at the same time taking freedom away from the people.

[af_newbie]

Seems to me that the drug war in Mexico is related to the drug war in the U.S.

You can't stop people from doing anything without taking their freedom away. If you give freedom to the people, or don't, some of them will always use drugs. The drug war is taking freedom away from U.S. people, but Mexico, being not as formally free in the first place (although freer in some ways, really), is much easier of a place to use to set up U.S. people with drug problems, especially if there are drug laws.

The whole idea is to take away the drug laws so that there isn't any basis for drug wars. I would suggest to do this for the U.S., because drug wars don't stop people from using drugs. They only make money for the prison housing people, and others, in a variety of ways.

The thing governments should do is, strongly advertise 2 things:
1. the dangers of drugs, along with the limits free people can use and remain safe;
2. the fact that if anyone harms someone after using drugs, or damages his property, when convicted, it will be the wrongdoer's punishment to repay the victims 4 times over, even if he has to labor in prison for his whole life to pay it back.

All the drug war does is to protect the wealthy, and make some of them wealthier, while at the same time taking freedom away from the people.

Governments everywhere should decriminalize drugs and profit from the production and sale of drugs, licensing etc.  If coke and heroin were readily available at any convenience store, you would not need cartels.

The sooner all the stupid people die the better.

Hardcore drugs were sold to children in the past:


They allow tobacco, coca-cola and other addictive products, but not hardcore drugs.  Legalizing drugs would create a whole new industry.

[milkiWay45]

That actually a very smart move. By legalizing it all, cartels won't have any sources of income because superprofits would disappear. Moreover, pure and legal drugs are much safer than those on the black market. That may lower the drug abuse death level drastically.

[seoincorporation]

That actually a very smart move. By legalizing it all, cartels won't have any sources of income because superprofits would disappear.

Ummm I think the narcos are going to take control of the market anyway, either legal or illegally... In fact, by legalizing drugs, they are giving the cartels the option to "come clear" and to declare and have their money clean almost instantly.

I doubt they will lose any profit, but, how knows? Maybe legalization is the way to the peace in Mexico. And yes, we absolutely need some peace.

[Flying Hellfish]

That actually a very smart move. By legalizing it all, cartels won't have any sources of income because superprofits would disappear.

Ummm I think the narcos are going to take control of the market anyway, either legal or illegally... In fact, by legalizing drugs, they are giving the cartels the option to "come clear" and to declare and have their money clean almost instantly.

I doubt they will lose any profit, but, how knows? Maybe legalization is the way to the peace in Mexico. And yes, we absolutely need some peace.

Don't the cartels make a lot of money sending those drugs to the USA (thinking mostly cocaine).  I thought Mexico was the pipeline to coke entering the States?  What percentage of cartel revenue is distribution in Mexico vs exporting?  If the violence in Mexico is doped up junkies shooting each other or gang turf wars over who can sell where, legalization might work.  If the violence is cartel driven at a higher level, like we saw during the Medellin/Cali/Escobar days because their business was almost purely export, then legalization I don't think will help.

I don't know enough about the specific violence in Mexico and I am curiously following the thread!

[BADecker]

Legalizing anything simply means allowing it with government controls. These controls express themselves in the form of taxes, as well as giving government the ability to control the legalized substance for the benefit of the people.

Why benefit the people? More taxes from more usage of it, right?

This will reduce profits to the cartels, because government will only take a small amount in tax form... at least until the cartels "starve" to death.


This is the same in the States. Evidence is that government can't stop the people from using drugs. The drug war has proven this. Legalizing drugs will make tax money for the States, at the same time that the States control it to some extent, to keep people from being harmed.


A real direct example of this is medical drugs in the States. It's against the law to make and use certain drugs without a prescription. Both the medical and the State make money from the process of prescribing. And, if prescribed properly, drugs don't harm the people like they would if U.S. "cartels" made and sold drugs in every way the public wanted (not that the pharmaceutical industry is not a cartel).

Since many of the illegal drugs come up from Mexico, legalization in Mexico will make money off people in the States, rather than having the cartels make the money, simply through many Mexican people being able to offer the drugs more cheaply to their U.S. friends, rather than the cartels offering it more expensively.

Right now this is rather evident regarding medical drugs, right at the Arizona/Mexico border town of Nogales. You can go across the border, and cheaply buy many medical drugs OTC, that you would have to buy with a prescription in the States. If done properly, you can get packages of many of these drugs mailed to you.

Mexican legalization just might be the thing to remove the drug war, bring drug prices down in the States, and bring freedom to people both sides of the border.

[kumablack]

I think its an interesting development..hopefully i get to see how this proposal pans out

[Spendulus]

That actually a very smart move. By legalizing it all, cartels won't have any sources of income because superprofits would disappear.

Ummm I think the narcos are going to take control of the market anyway, either legal or illegally... In fact, by legalizing drugs, they are giving the cartels the option to "come clear" and to declare and have their money clean almost instantly.

I doubt they will lose any profit, but, how knows? Maybe legalization is the way to the peace in Mexico. And yes, we absolutely need some peace.

Don't the cartels make a lot of money sending those drugs to the USA (thinking mostly cocaine).  I thought Mexico was the pipeline to coke entering the States?  What percentage of cartel revenue is distribution in Mexico vs exporting?  If the violence in Mexico is doped up junkies shooting each other or gang turf wars over who can sell where, legalization might work.  If the violence is cartel driven at a higher level, like we saw during the Medellin/Cali/Escobar days because their business was almost purely export, then legalization I don't think will help.

I don't know enough about the specific violence in Mexico and I am curiously following the thread!

Mexico became the primary conduit for drugs into the US after NAFTA.

The cartels EXIST because of US demand, Mexican demand is not 1%.

Legalization of drugs in Mexico will primarily help US citizens who go to Mexico and use drugs from getting into their screwed up legal system.

Legalization of drugs in the US will have a minor to moderate impact on the flow of drugs from Mexico. For example, it could take their profits out of weed, causing them to focus on cocaine and crack.

[squatz1]

Even though I do understand that this would probably work, I would doubt that it would ever come out of such a corrupt country like Mexico. I think if the government / politicians ever DID REALLY try to do something like this, the cartels would fund the opposition to it to ensure that their stream of income isn't stopped.

Plus then you have the lobby of pharma, private prisons, etc that are going to just be against this by default. It's not easy to pass, and it's most likely never going to.

I guess it's a pipe dream though.

[UnknownTraders]

War on drugs has been a failure from moment the idea was conceived. We should of never criminalized drug use anyway so it's kind of late but hopefully this is a step in the right direction. If governments controlled drugs people wouldn't have to wait on shady dark corners for unknown substances from sketchy individuals while being paranoid of the seller, the maker, the substance, unaware of the right dosage, AND also afraid of the police jumping out to lock them up. Whatever drug they're buying that amounts to some serious bad trip paranoia right away..

Anyone got some numbers for me? I'm certain that war on drugs has killed a lot more people than drug overdoses.

[sotoshihero]

That actually a very smart move. By legalizing it all, cartels won't have any sources of income because superprofits would disappear.

Ummm I think the narcos are going to take control of the market anyway, either legal or illegally... In fact, by legalizing drugs, they are giving the cartels the option to "come clear" and to declare and have their money clean almost instantly.

I doubt they will lose any profit, but, how knows? Maybe legalization is the way to the peace in Mexico. And yes, we absolutely need some peace.

Don't the cartels make a lot of money sending those drugs to the USA (thinking mostly cocaine).  I thought Mexico was the pipeline to coke entering the States?  What percentage of cartel revenue is distribution in Mexico vs exporting?  If the violence in Mexico is doped up junkies shooting each other or gang turf wars over who can sell where, legalization might work.  If the violence is cartel driven at a higher level, like we saw during the Medellin/Cali/Escobar days because their business was almost purely export, then legalization I don't think will help.

I don't know enough about the specific violence in Mexico and I am curiously following the thread!

Mexico became the primary conduit for drugs into the US after NAFTA.

The cartels EXIST because of US demand, Mexican demand is not 1%.

Legalization of drugs in Mexico will primarily help US citizens who go to Mexico and use drugs from getting into their screwed up legal system.

Legalization of drugs in the US will have a minor to moderate impact on the flow of drugs from Mexico. For example, it could take their profits out of weed, causing them to focus on cocaine and crack.

I agree, it has great impact on US and perpendicularly crime rate will rise. I dont agree with this suggestion, though I am keen to favor the legalization of hemp as a medical purposes to some  who needs it as there are already studies that validates this.

[r_herbert]

Finally, it is moving in the right direction.
This war has caused so many deaths, so many houses without children and so many trouble.
It is a pain to know that every year; governments spend money-fighting cartels.
The same money is needed for education and research.
 Nobody thinks about how to fight against deadly diseases.
For decades, millions have been poured in that war.
What is the result?
 Can we say finally it is done?
 Can we say mission accomplished?
No! It is an endless war.
The best is to legalize it.
 I do not like the idea myself but really, it is the best thing to do.
Let us spend our money on research and education. Smokers will find their own path.

[milkiWay45]

That actually a very smart move. By legalizing it all, cartels won't have any sources of income because superprofits would disappear.

Ummm I think the narcos are going to take control of the market anyway, either legal or illegally... In fact, by legalizing drugs, they are giving the cartels the option to "come clear" and to declare and have their money clean almost instantly.

I doubt they will lose any profit, but, how knows? Maybe legalization is the way to the peace in Mexico. And yes, we absolutely need some peace.

The only reason these cartels are earning exorbitant amounts of money is because drugs are illegal. The ban doesn't decrease the demand substantially, but the supply shrinks dramatically, which in couple of with cost of risk makes drugs cost a lot. That considering the fact that the netcost of any drug is negligible. If you legalize all drugs, you make it possible for anyone in the country to enter the market. As a result, the supply will increase and all prices will slump down. The drug market will stop being a high-marginal business and therefore all these cartels will lose their major source of income. As a rule, drug cartels are the biggest beneficiaries and lobbists of ban on drugs.

[KingScorpio]

To Stop the Cartels, Mexico Strongly Considering the Legalization of ALL Drugs

This week, Olga Sanchez Cordero, the future interior minister of incoming Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, announced that the government is strongly considering the decriminalization of all drugs.

Sanchez Cordero said at a seminar that she has full permission from the incoming administration to do whatever it takes to stop the cartel violence in the country, and ending the drug war is at the top of the list.

"On the subject of decriminalizing drugs, Andres Manuel told me, and I quote: 'Carte blanche. Whatever is necessary to restore peace in this country. Let's open up the debate,'" Cordero said.

"What no one can deny with hard data is that, at least in the past 10 years, the Mexican government has been incapable of stopping violence and responding to it with institutional mechanisms," she added.

The steady increase in violent crime over the past few decades is directly correlated with the escalation of the drug war. As we saw during the times of alcohol prohibition, when you ban an inanimate object, you create an incentive for people to get involved in the black market distribution of that object. Since there is no accountability or means of peaceful dispute resolution within the black market, buyers and sellers are forced to resort to violence as their sole means of handling disagreements.

Eventually, this violence spills over into the everyday world and affects everyone's lives. No one could imagine Budweiser and Miller Lite in a back alley gunfight, but less than a century ago, during alcohol prohibition, distributors of the drug were involved in shootouts on a regular basis—just as drug gangs are today. Of course, all of this violence came to an immediate end when alcohol was legalized. However, it was not long before the establishment found a new crusade in the drug war, which allowed them to continue the same policy, just with different substances.

In 2001, Portugal became the first country in the world to end the drug war within its borders, and in the short time since, the country has seen a radical improvement in their society. In regards to drugs, they actually now have less of a negative impact on society in Portugal than they did prior to the end of prohibition. There are now fewer drug-related deaths, fewer children getting a hold of drugs, and fewer people doing drugs in general.

Read more at https://thefreethoughtproject.com/to-stop-the-cartels-mexico-strongly-considering-the-legalization-of-all-drugs/.

mexico shouldnt annoy trump with it but start right away discussing with muslims about their laziness to ban drugs

[MileyPeardon]

I think it's a smart move. Legalization is a big step compared to decriminalization, but without a doubt something needs to change in Mexico.

[KingScorpio]

I think it's a smart move. Legalization is a big step compared to decriminalization, but without a doubt something needs to change in Mexico.

usa, and middle eastern especially muslim countries would never want drugs to be mainstream culture, would be a total cultural and civilizational downfall

[locsta123]

I really think the drug war is the biggest violation of our civil rights in the 21st century. Governments regulating and making drugs illegal is a direct violation of our freedom. The drug war has caused so much harm all over the world that could have easily been 100% avoided, I am glad mexico is thinking of doing this and it will have an effect on the black market. I really hope one day the govn't will be held accountable for the violations they have willingly and knowingly caused by their down right immoral laws!