"Who would drug legalization be good for? Latin America and the Caribbean, for God’s sake. Because the illegality is what’s killing people,”
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| "Stop the Drug War" ...Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico |
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ountries
in Latin America should consider legalizing drugs to ease the human cost linked
to the deadly trade, a United Nations chief has said.
Alicia Bárcena, who heads the Santiago, Chile-based
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, said that countries in
the region needed to look at drastic measures to tackle the trade,
which kills tens of thousands of people each year. “It’s time to
seriously consider legalizing drugs,” she told a Latin America forum in Paris, Reuters reported
on Tuesday.
“I’m going to be very
provocative. Who would drug legalization be good for? Latin America and the
Caribbean, for God’s sake. Because the illegality is what’s killing people,”
said Bárcena, who is from Mexico.
Mexico is a hub through
which cocaine is smuggled from Peru, Colombia and Bolivia to reach the United
States. In 2017, it had its deadliest year on record, with 29,168 reported
murders—higher than the murder rate at the height of Mexico’s drug war in 2011,
according to government data.
On Sunday, Rosalinda
Garcia, the wife of top drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” was
arrested on charges of laundering funds for his New Generation Jalisco cartel,
which is blamed for heroin shipments to the U.S., Sky News reported.
Oseguera is Mexico’s
most wanted drug lord, after Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán was extradited to the
United States last year to face trial. The U.S. State Department is offering a reward
of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
Do you want legal crack on your street? With govnmt making all the $$$?
ReplyDeleteLol nobody does crack anymore.
DeleteThe US did that once with freeway ross and look how Oakland turned out
DeleteKnowing one crack dealing family in one town-yes. This family has ruined the community, at least the govt would just sell the dope without the abuse and drama.
DeleteTobacco is legal! Yet killing more than drug overdose each year. Alcohol consumption kills the liver of many creating a health issue of liver disease! A costly issue for many states who have to bear with the insufficient funds available for medical care.
DeleteGovernment, pharmaceutical companies and its Wall Street cronies are already making fortunes. What difference will it make if they make more? It’s never been a fair economic system anyway!
Sounds like your issue is not morality speaking but the inequality from those profiting!
Drug consumption will never end! That’s a given. But legalizing drugs will stop the killings of those countries being impacted the most. A failure and costly burden on taxpayers each year. Billions of revenue that can be applied elsewhere, schools , infrastructure, job training drug educational programs ect.
E42
Legalizing drugs won’t work and the billions will still go to the corrupt politicians because the black market will still exist just like it does with alcohol... how much of the alcohol in Cancun is bootleg? The percentage was significantly high in resort areas... corruption is the problem...
DeleteGC
@E42, You realize that the violence has nothing to do with the drugs and everything to do with money, right? Legalizing drugs won't stop the violence in those countries because their problems are corruption and cultural. Pablo Escobar smuggled legally acquired goods for years before he ever jumped into cocaine.
DeleteThe yearly estimate for smuggled tobacco in the US alone is in the hundreds of millions. The estimate is based on seizures, which means they have no idea how much is really occurring (and in most smuggling cases they find out later that their estimates were far lower than actual).
KB
Smuggling cigarettes made in the US, or wherever, people buy them in Indiana to avoid paying one dollar tax in illinois, who cares about 1 lousy dollar?
DeleteThey also spend 10 dollars gas to go and come back, that happens for thinking with the caboose
Drugs are medical problem and should be treated as such not as it now is a criminal problem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOB3qVoS6Gs Drugs have destroyed our societies.
Delete@kb
DeleteYou are correct. It’s all about the money.
E42
12:39 I don't like your statistics because these numbers are subject to how the people that are doing the statistics want the numbers to reflect . How old were the tobacco victims verses the drug victims ? I don't like statistics . There are many in those numbers that are counted as tobacco deaths that never smoked . Hospitals tend to falsify papers to get more money . Remember the huge tobacco settlements ? That was for ongoing treatment for the illnesses of tobacco users . If people will look at the billing for their elderly family members that are hospitalized for anykind of respiratory treatment , you may find in the details they are specifically called a ex smoker even if they never were . Why ? Money ! Seen it . Know it . Statistics don't mean shit ! Too many liars out there .
DeleteThis is not a solution. As long as the consuming countries still outlaw them nothing will change.
ReplyDeleteLa neta. El desmadre nunca va parar. - Sol Prendido
ReplyDeleteAlicia Barcena is blind to the situation in Mexico, legalizing drugs would not stop, the killings, kidnappings, extortion exist. Will you then say legalize kidnappings and extortions?
ReplyDeleteYes, let's make them legal. Then you'll have even more killing due to an increase in available profit because they won't have to pay cops and politicians to produce and traffic the crap through the country. They'll also be able to legally ship them between areas, so they won't have to worry about using the more dangerous and expensive go-fast and low-profile vessels, semi-submersibles, etc.
ReplyDeleteKB
Legal commerce works differently than the black market. I think you are using black market logic on legal commerce. It’s a different game as a whole.
DeleteLegal markets make it easier to smuggle normally legal goods and sell at lower prices. Just look at NYC and cigarettes.
DeleteKB
Cut off cartel drug profits and even the lazy ass Sinaloans/CDS can begin kidnapping innocents for ransom, sex trafficking, slavery and even organ trading! Greed knows no boundaries for those that seek wealth!
ReplyDeleteBetter salaries are needed instead in order for some to NOT concider entering illegal trades as well as keep them from immigrating to a different country like our own for example in search of a better life or the "American dream".
Yes!!
DeleteMinimum wages in Mexico would be communism/socialism, or some shit, the government has NO PLANS, FACK YU!
DeleteIN MEXICO minimum wages if 2 dollars a day, minimum, but people already pay more than that just to have somebody working in the money laundering laundromat.
Any ody threatens the Statu Quo will get it up the ass, and no government protection wi save you if you betray the sacred principles of the Mexican Revolution according to Hidalgo:
"chingue su madre el que deje algo"
Question remains what would these individuals do for employment once drugs are legalized?
ReplyDeleteMost individuals have no employment skills to find work! Moreover, the ability to learn anything due to their lack of intelligence and ignorant behavior. A questionable re-consideration for employers don’t you think?
Sad to say these individuals will resort to other means of illegal activities to sustain oneself.
Mexico’s agriculture industry is transforming into
a monopoly of an agriculture corporation. Where small farmers are constantly trying to stay afloat.
Furthermore, where it’s more profitable to harvest illegal drugs ( poppies ) than corn, avocados ect.
These individuals in rural communities know only farming. A huge disadvantage IMO for those who rely on such.
Recommend finding a solution where such implementations will not create another issue!
E42
My family harvest jalapeño peppers in the Delicias Chihuahua region they sell to La Costeña company but they’re small time of course...I think they’re doing better than us here in the states
DeleteGreat reply as always.
Delete@12:32
DeleteThat’s great. Not many are doing well struggling due to price fluctuations and competition.
E42
Cont: let’s not forget that China has entered the agricultural market! Growing just about everything Mexico exports and at a cheaper price! What impact have farmers had due China’s continuous dominance of goods and globalization?
DeleteE42
E
DeleteEmployment is participated in by many addicts. In all professions. These are functioning addicts.
Chinese agriculture is limited because of too much population, not enough farm land and small family production, they are already strained because of offshoring contracts and ingredients for heroine and opiates to other parasite countries...
DeleteUnfortunately not limited as one may Think!
DeleteChinese produce is very common in many grocery stores. Just about every kind of chilies are being grown by China. Something my dad despises. Moreover, says what do Chinese know about making chilies. Along with many products.
The reality is globalization cannot be stopped. We as a people must make the necessary adjustments to live and eat.
A.I. ( artificial intelligence ) will wipe out the white collar sector of employees within 15 years. Despite the need for technical support for this new field not enough to put all those back to work.
Doctors, nurses and tradesmen are guaranteed employment for those transitioning into the workplace.
E42
Legalize all drugs to single-handedly end cartel involvement?
ReplyDeleteHow would that help that just gives the govement all the power
DeleteGREAT IDEA ! Then the criminal will become ministers and Sunday school teachers . I think somebody must be a genius for thinking this up .
DeleteBut wait ! what about extortion ? Is drugs the cause of this blood bath in mexico or are Mexicans violent ? Chivis have you ever done a bad act of violence against anyone ? I never have .
DeleteI was 11 "sister" was 9. She ratted me out and told our mother I did not practice my violin. I had to practice double on weekend. I pushed her down and yanked her hair. I had to pay her a dollar to keep quiet about it.
DeleteAbout once a year I apologize for it and she says "ok, enough already".
other than that, nope. I don't understand violence.
You must understand these violent people are only a small percentage of Mexicans. less than 3 percent. it should not be generalized, you are here, this is a narco blog. violence is what you will get.
Chivis,
Deletecomo cuantas gallinas me costaria la mano de tu hermana?
--En Mexico "Salir con tu violin" is not a good thing,
don't even think about it
Way past time, I'd rather the cops deal with murder, rape, child moles, etc. Take the dope out of the equation and you'd still have a job, you naysayers.
ReplyDeleteTake a look at how that's working out in Washington and Colorado...
DeleteKB
The dope comes from around the Equator,
DeleteNot from any equation mister Ain'tStain
What happens if drugs are made legal in Latin America and the Caribbean but not in the US?
ReplyDeleteGuanajuato is now leading Mexico in murders and it has nothing to do with drug trafficking. It's pipeline theft from the refinery in Salamanca.
ReplyDeletePipeline theft, train robberies, extortion, kidnapping, illegal logging, and human trafficking are just a few of the alternate employment for bad guys.
Mexico is very culturally conservative and won't for a minute consider legalizing hard drugs. The US will do it first, but not even the US is considering that.
Govermont alway trying to get richer y'all need to stop taking all the bribe and start doing you job
ReplyDelete9:25 y tu pinche nieve de que la quieres?
Delete--Who the hell wants to pay double for shit so the government has more money to steal or turn into Pork Barrel for Billionaire Boys Club? That sounds retarded light...
I say it should be done. It won’t fix all the problems 100% and there is no solution that won’t causesome kind of other problem, but the other problem will not be as grave. From what we are seeing now, doing it can not make things worse than they are already now. it definitely worth giving it a try
ReplyDeleteOC Boy
this is an example of another brainless politician who has no idea whats going on. legalizing all drugs means giving up. like everyone else said theres still many other illegal acts that cartels engage in that are not drug related, does she think meth labs would stop aswell? these guys would make more drugs more dangerous labs would pop up because they will think they can do it without the fear of being arrested, look at California who legalized marijuana and alot of idiots dont bother to check the laws and assume its straight up legal and set up shop now there are many dispensaries being shut down because theyre operating illegaly.
ReplyDeletethe problem will not be solved soon, there is no quick solution, the present is fucked for now unless theyre dealt with on a non democratic way and rights are violated, but the way to end this is reduce it is with the government to go through major changes, more needs to be invested in education and jobs. many kids dont go to school in order to go work and many start their criminal career because theres no work and trafficking seems likena quick way to make money. there needs to be investment in prevention, in Mexicos case narcos are often seen as heroes, people protect them as it was with chapo la tuta and recently el abuelo, mexican americans love narco corridos, people fuel corruption they often attempt to bribe cops to escape even a traffic citation. The Mexican government is extremely lenient with drug offenders and anyone with money, i can go to Mexico and arrested with a ton of dope and be released because of lack of evidence, the laws need to be rewritten, amparos need to be elimiated how can a criminal hire an attorney and get a guarantee not to be arrested? and the fact that escaping jail is not illegal because its a "natural human reaction to want to be set free" thats the stupidiest thing i heard what about those killed? its also natural for a human to want to live. Corruption needs to be tackled and corrupted officials should face harsh penalties. Death penalty should exist for serial killers but with mexicos current government i wouldnt trust it, the wrong people would be getting killed
If they become legal, la era de Los bajadores va regresar como en Los 90s
ReplyDeleteHmmmm la era de los bajadores?? Sounds interesting... me puedez explicar a lil about this era??
DeletePeople bajandoles los calzones a others on the street, real funny, but, pero si te bajan la carga de droga que chinga te llevaste,
DeleteY la chinga que te vas a llevar para pagar.
Y la chinga que te vas a llevar si no pagas,
Y lo pior, nomás El güey que te bajó sabia lo que traias porque es tu parna...
US is the #1 consumer, not Latin America. The problem is the rate of addiction in the US coupled with the higher income. It is literally a nation of addicts with enough money to feed their addiction.
ReplyDeleteCrime soars in the USA because of crack and heroin. people are robbing
DeleteSo you could go to dispensary and get good coke, good heroin and good weed.. Interesting...
ReplyDeleteIf they are legal then people can get cocaine pretty easily, walk into a store and leave. But then crack addiction, health problems and overdose would go over the roof. These drugs are really addictive and brings a lot of health problems. Once they become more easily acessible, then what? Addiction is no joke with these drugs. Can you imagine teenagers getting hooked onto them? ...
ReplyDelete100% agree with the United Nations chief.. all drugs should be legalized worldwide and sold by governments. Let's face it, the war on drugs has been a losing war...it can never be won, the demand for drugs will always be there. As long as drugs are illegal, there will be big money to be made from organized crime/drug cartels, which in turn brings overwhelming violence for competition amongst themselves to be the top dog to supply that demand. What if all of a sudden those same markets these cartels are supplying suddenly being flooded by drugs sold by the government, cartels would lose billions of dollars. Before you naysayers say I'm just a left-wing socialist, quite the opposite...I'm pro law enforcement and pretty much pro common sense. If you want to cripple these cartels and violence associated with them, hit them in their pocketbooks...less money they have, less bribery, corruption they can exert on society. I compare it to prohibition in the 20's.. good ol Al Capone days of killings and organized gangsters thriving selling "illegal" alcohol. Legazing alcohol in the states halted these gangsters' massive cash cow of bootlegging. When was the last time you heard of rival gangsters killing each other over bootlegging alcohol!?...exactly, never. And to everyone that says everyone will become junkies if drugs were suddenly legalized, please....if heroin became legal overnight where you can walk in a govt controlled store to buy some, you'd buy some and shoot up!?!..I didn't think you would... What if somebody who is already hooked on heroin walks into that same quality-controlled govt store to buy his/her fix instead of buying it from their Mexican cartel dealer, that's my point, I'd rather govt gets that money to go towards various health reduction programs and treatment instead of money going towards the savage cartels. I think the Canadian govt is onto something by legalizing marijuana up there.. wow, do you know how much money organized crime/bikers will lose out!?!.. what a big blow they'll be dealt. Good for Canada to realize that to hurt these criminal gangs you need to affect their bottom line. If Trump (which I'm a fan of) wants to decapitate these Mexican cartels, he should legalize Marijuana at least, then Cocaine and heroin...that would be the coup-de-grace on financially destroying these drug dealers.
ReplyDeleteGreat comment. Except for the part about Trump LOL
Deletedrugs are actually legal, aslong as its regulated and taxed. Marijuana is not being taxed on a federal level so it remains illegal on a federal level, yet the states that do tax it or are going to tax it,legalized it while on a federal level, amphetamines which are dangerous and have caused deaths its completely LEGAL and its even considered a class 2 which is considered less dangerous and less addictive than marijuana (class 1 yet no deaths from marijuana reported), if your child is diagnosed with ADHD guess what would be prescribed to your child? AMPHETAMINES! and why? because its a drug that cost alot and gets taxed alot and both government and big pharma make alot out of it!
DeleteA big part of doing drugs is the illegality,
DeleteIf there is no rules to trump it like loses the sex appeal.
Trump is not gonna legalize drugs... he lost a family member to substance abuse... he seems to have an agenda regarding drug abuse and drug dealing... maybe he could be the next president of Mexico??
ReplyDeleteGC
9:46 living in new York in the 80s, nobody escaped drugs, some even got hospitalized for overdoing it, lost billions of dollars of other people's money, stole more billions and of course trafficked drugs with the best of the best, won the game of last man standing, until you know, people get to the last rung and meet all their inefficiency and shortcomings all at once
DeleteWell it works in europe...why not give it a try. Everything is all jacked up down south anyways...
ReplyDeleteI think mexico should end its "war on drugs" but not by legalizing. The government can tax and control distribution of them but are they going to flood the boarders with drugs? No way, these cartels will just have a steadier supply, that won't change a thing. Nobody gives a shit about getting drugs into Mexico,it's the routes out of their people kill and die for. I think it's time to look at why things weren't out of hand before 2006. Drugs were still illegal but the country was not out of control like it is today. Why? I'm really asking too I know they declared a war but what worked then that isn't working now?
ReplyDeleteL54
Dumb remark by lady, drugs cannot be legal, they create problems in life. And the Cartels would still kill people, kidnap, extort.
ReplyDeleteFor years I was opposed to legalization, but as I have stated numerous times I now support legalization. How that takes shape I admit not to know.
ReplyDeleteThe argument of opponents is boogie man tactic and how it would not curb violence. I disagrees with that opinion, of course it would not eliminate violence but it would diminish violence. And logistics would change. While black market product would remain to a small extent, the product in Mexico would shift to diversification and to Mexico homeland e.g. oil theft, kidnapping extortion etc. logistics would shift away from the U.S.
There will always be a percentage of the population that are prone to addiction....and being addicted to something. And a relatively small percentage of those take drugs to enter oblivion. But most can lead lives as a functioning addict. And most drug users are not addicts.
I have been open with my own personal story, although he was clean before his murder, before that for years he was a functioning addict. He lived a responsible life...other than his addiction.
Read the history, the arguments against legalization, i think, are from fear. Same arguments given during prohibition. look at the murder rate in 1921 it was over 8 per 100k, after prohibition...in the first year it dropped to 4.1.
Take a look at successful legalization in other nations. Let them be the guide to legalization. Regulate, tax and distribution.
The so called "opiate crisis" is misleading. The gov has blended all ODs into one scary package. Heroin deaths and RX pain med ODs should not be in the same group. Nor should street drugs and RX.
The number of RX pain meds has decreased each year in the past 5 years. and of all the scripts written only 2% of patients abuse pain meds. One can become dependent without being abusing drugs.
the drop in scripts is attributed to many factors incl oversight of physicians and pharmacies by DEA and the use of pain doctors for chronic pain sufferers who have great authority but strict oversight. they are accountable.
Annual deaths:
All drugs street and RX: 63k
Tobacco 480k
Alcohol 94k
Cannabis/Marijuana 0
What's the graph amount for Overdose s.
DeleteSignificant input. Well Done!
Deletereader on the fence but all ears.
Less crimes to commit means less money for the cops, lawyers, judges etc. Why make it illegal since its bringing in good cash in fines and attorney fees? If someone wants to hurt their health they are gona do it regardless legal or not.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry, while speaking of the addict who was murdered I failed to say who I am speaking of, it was my brother. I wrote an article with his and my personal story. If you are interested in reading the story link here
ReplyDeletehttp://www.borderlandbeat.com/2018/04/more-should-carry-narcan-antidote-to.html#comment-form
Drugs are fun if you do it responsibly, and some kind of drugs like psychedelics(LSD) are less dangerous and addictive than alcohol and tobacco and open your mind, stimulants like amphetamines(Meth) makes you get shit done and motivate you, though they can really destroy someone's life if abused.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that making drugs legal won't solve the organized crime problem, they definitely will reduce their finances and their power to corrupt politicians and cops, besides drugs are a health problem not a criminal one.
Making drugs free and available for all for the asking or at least cheaper would reduce the War on Drugs expenses by about 90% providing health care and intervention for free for the addicts, but nooo...
Delete--the US ain't winning any war anymore without first losing their ass to the War Profiteering Corporate Welfare Queens of the World...
Drugs is only part of the crimes.
ReplyDelete