Mexico Looks to Legalization as Drug War Murders Hit 28,000

President joins calls for debate after figures reveal extent of violence since launch of military offensive against cartels in 2006

Mexico's president, Felipe Calderón, has joined calls for a debate on the legalization of drugs as new figures show thousands of Mexicans every year being slaughtered in cartel wars.

Calderón's new openness comes amid tremendous pressure to justify a strategy that has been accompanied by the spiraling of horrific violence around the country as the cartels fight each other and the government crack down. Official figures released this week put the number of drug war related murders at 28,000.

www.commondreams.org...

Finally someone is using logic when addressing this issue. I wonder how quickly the American government will shoot down these "debates."

The "War on Drugs" is one of the stupidest things one can imagine. I am not in favor of any drug, but if someone really wants to poison his or her body, why not at least take the criminals out of the buying'selling equation?

[edit on 6-8-2010 by InvisibleAlbatross]

[edit on 6-8-2010 by InvisibleAlbatross]

ABOUT DAMN TIME.
Watch the finances of the cartels take a nosedive now.

If the Mexico Prez actualy manages to push this through he will be dead within a week. The suspects? Either the drug gangs or the CIA... Take your pic

reply to post by hippomchippo


For this reason, as Shen Long posts below yours, I suspect the cartels will be targetting him. The CIA too most likely. But at least he is trying to make a change.

ONLY ONE PROBLEM...

The cartels aren't selling it in Mexico...

reply to post by Jeanius


I read it as, it will be legal=no more going after the cartels on the USA's behalf.

reply to post by InvisibleAlbatross


Interesting...

So like they are giving in to the cartels basically then?

They won?

If the US wants to do something about it, they come and do it?

Finally some common sense...ALL drugs should be legal, unless your use of drugs directly effects the liberties of others then neither the state nor any anti-drug zealots should have any say in the matter. Of course as usual it all comes down to $$$ and not the health and freedoms of people....so i very much doubt this debate will accomplish much.

[edit on 6-8-2010 by Solomons]

reply to post by Jeanius


I don't know if it's saying "you won" so much as admitting it's an unwinnable war. 28,000 deaths due to this war; it's time to stop. The US is already in Mexico I believe. If America wants to stop drugs, stop them at the border.

reply to post by InvisibleAlbatross


America could stop drugs if they wanted to.

However, it keeps our private prisons full of non-violent and easily controlled people, and portions of our government bring it into the country using the profits to fund black projects, cartels, dealers, dictators and more.

I'm hopeful that Mexico will see the light and stop the losing strategy of prohibition

legalize marijuana and hemp. put everybody to work and make everything under the sun out of hemp. it's the way out of the depression in more ways than one.
the mexicans could stay home and grow it.
its the meth and crack that need real attention.