The Mexican government’s push to combat drug-related violence has done little to lessen the fear in most Mexicans. Nevertheless, President Felipe Calderon suggested relaxing the penalties against the personal use of certain illegal drugs. In a proposal submitted yesterday to Mexico’s legislature, Calderon recommended that rehab be substituted for jail over possession of narcotics like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.Calderon’s plan runs the risk of being rejected not by Mexican parliamentarians but via pressure from the U.S.:
Mexican lawmakers approved a similar bill in 2006 proposed by former President Vicente Fox, who said it aimed to crack down on traffickers and retail drug peddlers without tying up resources to punish addicts. Fox never signed the measure into law amid pressure from U.S. officials and Mexican groups that said it sanctioned drugs and would attract users from abroad.In another anti-crime proposal submitted to congress, Calderon urged senators to “shake up” Mexico’s notoriously corrupt police.
Image- abc.net.au
Sources- The Latin Americanist, AP, Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg, Reuters
U.S. politicians should not only stay out of Mexico's drug policy, they should learn something from it. It is the U.S. War on Drugs that pushes prices and therefore profits up, fueling the cartel infighting.
ReplyDeleteI agree with "the editor."The US has some nerve to tell Mexico what to do. Our failed prohibition policies provide the fuel for Mexico's fiery cartel warfare.
ReplyDeleteI hope this time around, Mexico follows the lead of Bolivia and Venezuela, and says "no" to the War on (some) Drugs. After all, our greedy politicians aren't the ones who have to pay the price when the bloodshed worsens. It's all about power, money and racism.