As Rebels Move Out of Colombia Drug Trade, Corporations Look to Move In

...A Canadian company called PharmaCielo, with the government’s approval, is working to produce the drug legally in Colombia and is looking to hire.

It is an unorthodox experiment by Colombia, one that underscores the region’s changing attitudes toward drugs after decades of fighting them.

Colombia has received billions of dollars in American aid to eradicate the drug trade. But in the coming weeks, the government says, it will begin processing licenses for a small number of companies, including PharmaCielo, under a 2015 law that allows the cultivation of medical marijuana.

As Rebels Move Out of Colombia Drug Trade, Corporations Look to Move In

More signs of our rapidly changing world. But this one has nothing to do with automation. It's about legal medical marijuana, and rescuing failed economies.

Looks like a good idea?

...Rarely has a country taken an illegal drug overseen by a criminal organization and tried to replace it with the same crop produced legally, sold by corporations.

“Here we have an entirely new opportunity,” said Alejandro Gaviria, Colombia’s health minister, whose agency is issuing the licenses.

Mr. Gaviria said that decades of efforts by Colombia to move drug cultivators to other crops had hit a wall: The peasants made less money, rural development moved backward, and some farmers simply returned to drug cultivation.

“It’s been a complete failure,” he said.

Corporations always 'move in' when they smell profit. The gubment willing complies to their demands, passing legislation that regulates the legality and production to themselves and the corporations.

Try profiting from growing some weed or making some beer in your home without all the bureaucratic permits, licensing, fees and tax.

Well, okay, you can grow or brew some personal stash, but don't make any money or you're in trouble.

Monopolistic assholes.

a reply to: soficrow

So Colombia wants to legalize cannabis?

a reply to: ColdWisdom

Medical marijuana is already legal in numerous countries.

Big Pharma is negotiating grow-op deals.

a reply to: soficrow

Great.

So, the peasants are thrown off the land and Big Corporations come in with automated equipment and technicians and grow the MJ.

Brilliant............until the local Communists organize the peasants!

originally posted by: TonyS
a reply to: soficrow

Great.

So, the peasants are thrown off the land and Big Corporations come in with automated equipment and technicians and grow the MJ.

Brilliant............until the local Communists organize the peasants!

Good catch! ...I didn't look that far ahead.

a reply to: soficrow

Canada offshores an industry that is just in its infancy, now thats looking out for their nation.

They need to Make Canada Great Again!

a reply to: D8Tee

They need to Make Canada Great Again!

Canada is taking over the American Dream

Let us not forget that Canada never cut its corporate-colonial cord.

Make 'me all legal. Take them out of the hands of criminals . Give the individual the right to put in their body whatever they want as long as no other laws are broken.

Use the war on drug funds to fund treatment and research to why people take these substances to escape sober reality.

You being treating the anxieties and fears of the human mind , you begin getting people comfortable in a sober and present way.

Then those people can begin to be a productive citizen.

a reply to: Paddyofurniture

You have a lot of faith in the corporate agenda.

I envy you.

originally posted by: soficrow
a reply to: Paddyofurniture

You have a lot of faith in the corporate agenda.

I envy you.

My statement doesn't have anything to do with corporate agenda.

Place manufacturing and distribution of mind / sense altering drugs to private and or public sectors. What it will do is take it out of the black market manufacturing ( of which there are no regulatory inspections of heroin made in Afghanistan for example) and black market distribution ( of which there is no difference of selling to an adult or a child to a street dealer for example)
And regulate the whole thing like any other pharmaceutical company has to when they manufacturer and distribute prescription and OTC drugs. Place Laws in place like alcohol consumption.

What this will do is enable users, addicts to freely consume but with legal parameters ( no operating vehicles, supplying underage etc).

Establish treatment facilities . Some will choose to use for the rest of their lives. They can't be saved , it's their personal choice. But some will get help ( and I think most eventually will once a system like this is established) .

Telling everyone that their "bad" and " criminals" and throwing them in prison isn't working. Prisons make convicts, convicts become life time criminals. There is no rehabilitation in our current rehabilitation system.

The people that need the most help are the ones drowning them selves in these drugs. Poverty, abuse, and poor educational systems breed this behavior.

All it would take is an intelligent approach and humans helping humans.

No corporate agenda.

a reply to: Paddyofurniture

Sounds kinda like the approach Portugal has taken.
It is a success for them.

Link

"The main lesson to learn decriminalizing drugs doesn't necessarily lead to disaster, and it does free up resources for more effective responses to drug-related problems,"

a reply to: D8Tee

Yup.

It won't happen over night. And will likely be an arduous process.

Legal marijuana is a step in the right direction. Once people find that legal weed isn't going to turn their child or town into a reefer madness movie open intelligent conversation can commence.

It's the smart move. I think we will get there eventually.