The War on Drugs Is A Failure
The situation in Mexico has grown so bad and desperate that the nation's President, Felipe Calerdon, said Wednesday that the drug cartels have become so powerful that they are threatening to displace the elected government.
It was only February of 2009 that Mexico's conservative President defiantly claimed that his agenda to crack down on the cartels would result in winning the war on drugs by 2012. At the time, he was responding to U.S. intelligence estimates that put Mexico's stability on par with Pakistan. Fast forward to today and we see President Calderon walking back his bold agenda after having been defeated by the reality on the ground.
Deaths directly related to the war on drugs in Mexico has been staggering since President Calderon began his so called crack down on the cartels in 2006. The bloody toll since 2006 is 28,000 deaths and counting.
Thankfully, after decades of out of control spending on the war on drugs, states like California have taken the lead and will be voting in November on a ballot initiative to end prohibition on marijuana, and take away upwards of 60% of cartels money from that one crop. If successful, it would mean the complete legalization and regulation of marijuana for all adults in the state.
Recent polling has been interesting showing a marked increase in support for legalization from even a year ago, with the latest SurveyUSA poll from July 8 to 11 showing 50-40 support for the measure with 11% undecided. Now, there is no question that the current economic shortfalls facing states like California who are struggling with massive budget deficits has helped support grow for legalizing marijuana. In fact, The House of Representatives just passed the National Criminal Justice Commission Act to begin a full comprehensive review of the nation's criminal justice system. Specifically on the minds of citizens and politicians is ending the jailing of non-violent drug offenders, frankly because they can't afford to keep jailing people who people increasingly think shouldn't be jailed to begin with.
There are many reasons to end prohibition on marijuana, not least of which is the increasing scientific evidence that it is less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes, and the fact that even the AMA acknowledges its medical potential. However, as it was with the end of alcohol prohibition, it is economic issues which may potentially end the war on drugs which has only succeeded in making criminal organizations more profitable and exceedingly more violent, all while the tax payer pays more and more to put their neighbours in jail.
Vote 'yes' on Prop 19.
It was only February of 2009 that Mexico's conservative President defiantly claimed that his agenda to crack down on the cartels would result in winning the war on drugs by 2012. At the time, he was responding to U.S. intelligence estimates that put Mexico's stability on par with Pakistan. Fast forward to today and we see President Calderon walking back his bold agenda after having been defeated by the reality on the ground.
Deaths directly related to the war on drugs in Mexico has been staggering since President Calderon began his so called crack down on the cartels in 2006. The bloody toll since 2006 is 28,000 deaths and counting.
Thankfully, after decades of out of control spending on the war on drugs, states like California have taken the lead and will be voting in November on a ballot initiative to end prohibition on marijuana, and take away upwards of 60% of cartels money from that one crop. If successful, it would mean the complete legalization and regulation of marijuana for all adults in the state.
Recent polling has been interesting showing a marked increase in support for legalization from even a year ago, with the latest SurveyUSA poll from July 8 to 11 showing 50-40 support for the measure with 11% undecided. Now, there is no question that the current economic shortfalls facing states like California who are struggling with massive budget deficits has helped support grow for legalizing marijuana. In fact, The House of Representatives just passed the National Criminal Justice Commission Act to begin a full comprehensive review of the nation's criminal justice system. Specifically on the minds of citizens and politicians is ending the jailing of non-violent drug offenders, frankly because they can't afford to keep jailing people who people increasingly think shouldn't be jailed to begin with.
There are many reasons to end prohibition on marijuana, not least of which is the increasing scientific evidence that it is less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes, and the fact that even the AMA acknowledges its medical potential. However, as it was with the end of alcohol prohibition, it is economic issues which may potentially end the war on drugs which has only succeeded in making criminal organizations more profitable and exceedingly more violent, all while the tax payer pays more and more to put their neighbours in jail.
Vote 'yes' on Prop 19.
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