Who is committed to the drug war?
In a further sign of his administration's commitment to the 84 month old drug war, Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto today approved a memorandum of understanding with Turkish president Abdullah Gül, in which both nations have agreed to cooperate in combatting international drug trafficking and terrorism. Attorney General Jesús Murillo Karam signed the document for Mexico.
On May 3, during a visit to Mexico City, president Obama told an audience of young people, "drug legalization is not the answer," and promised that the United States would not go down that route. Vice-president Joe Biden told a group of Mexican journalists the same thing later in the month.
On May 24 Peña Nieto told a Colombian radio station, "I've always been opposed to the legalization of drugs. It seems to me that it's an easy but false solution to the problem of fighting crime, which is connected to the sale and distribution of narcotics." On June 6, at the 43rd annual convention of the Organization of American States in Antigua, Guatemala, Mexico cast its vote against the legalization of any drug.
On Aug. 29 U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder notified the governors of Colorado and Washington that the Justice Dept. would take no action against them for recently enacted marijuana legalization rules, which other U.S. jurisdictions may follow. Cannabis in any quantity and for any purpose, recreational or therapeutic, remains prohibited under federal statutes and a decision of the United States Supreme Court. The Colorado and Washington laws violate the paramount federal ones. U.S. will take no action against Colorado and Washington over marijuana legalization.
Since he was sworn in a year ago, Peña Nieto has been repeatedly criticized on Capitol Hill for an alleged lack of resolve in the drug war. The senior Democratic senator from Vermont has been one of the most vocal. Sen. Patrick Leahy blocks $95M in Mérida Initiative funds.
Meanwhile, in public statements Sen. Leahy praised the decision not to enforce federal law against Colorado and Washington, opining it was the right of citizens of those states to have marijuana for "personal use."
2014
May 17 - Survey: Mexicans remain overwhelmingly opposed to marijuana legalization, by 70% margin
Feb. 12 - Jalisco prosecutor "strongly opposed" to legal cannabis
Jan. 3 - The U.S. position on marijuana is entirely hypocritical, and Mexico should reconsider its own laws on the subject. So argues this editorial in today's edition of the rather left-leaning La Jornada. Whatever the merits of the writer's second argument, he is unquestionably correct on the former.
Jan. 2 - Mexico will report on marijuana eradication
Jan. 1 - Colorado's recreational marijuana laws went into force today. Residents can legally toke up, but meanwhile, says Sen. Leahy, Mexicans had damn well better show some commitment to that seven year old drug war.
Dec. 12, 2011 - Obama: U.S. drug demand responsible for damage done to Mexico and other nations
Dec. 29, 2011 - Honduras: 100 tons of cocaine shipped yearly to the U.S., "where the customers are"
Feb. 18, 2012 - Obama asks Congress for another $244 million towards Mexican drug war effort
Sept. 26, 2012 - "Drug users are killing thousands of young people in the developing nations," Felipe Calderón tells United Nations
Oct. 25, 2012 - The drug dealer in pinstripes
Nov. 8, 2012 - Mexico's incoming PRI government pays little attention to U.S. marijuana legalization
Mar. 15, 2013 - It's still illegal in the Sunflower State
Mar. 31, 2013 - Mexican drug traffickers find ready assistance in mules carrying American passports
Aug. 3, 2013 - Manuel López Obrador: no to marijuana legalization
Aug. 14, 2013 - One step closer to the gallows: Malaysian court affirms Mexicans' death sentences
Dec. 10, 2013 - Foreign Policy names Peña Nieto a top Global Thinker
"Living by the U.S. is like living next door to the biggest drug addict in town" - Felipe Calderón
Stoners salivating in Denver, as they get ready to make their first illegal buy under new state laws. And those predictions of lower prices? Medical marijuana was going for $250 an ounce after the first week of sales, and recreational marijuana for $400 an ounce. Some predict a thriving black market in cannabis will develop - exactly the opposite of what pro-legalization forces said would occurr.
© MGRR 2013. All rights reserved. This article may be cited or briefly quoted with proper attribution or a hyperlink, but not reproduced without permission.
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