Mexico To Legalize Drugs?
Wow. Just….wow. I never thought I’d live to see the day when Mexico legalizes drugs for personal consumption. Well, actually, they haven’t yet…but they’re standing on the precipice and looking straight down the barrel of that particular gun. I guess if you have the one of the largest and deadliest active drug wars being waged in your own front yard you have to come up with something to combat the uncontrollable violence that’s rotting your country from the inside out.
This could also serve as a great case study to see what actually happens when a country as large as Mexico decides to cast aside the War On Drugs mantra and allow the people who are already using illegal substances to do so in a legal manner.
Let’s hope this won’t be a half-hearted attempt at changing a failed policy. If Mexico is to do this right, they need to not only stop prosecuting harmless users, but also offer an alternative to illicit sources. With drugs legalized and regulated, less money will find its way into criminal organizations. It might even go so far as to persuade the drug cartels into going legit, pay taxes on their products, and transform themselves into honest businessmen. Yeah, keep dreaming. Right?
Come to think of it, this could usher in a rebirth and resurrection of sorts for Mexico. No longer would people have to travel to Amsterdam to party, they could simply skip on down south of the border. Mexico could reap in the new tax dollars, and with the violence quashed the tourists would return and prop up the economy even more.
If it comes to fruition, this first step at legalizing drugs in Mexico will effectively push the cost of the War On Drugs back across the border and squarely on the shoulders of the United States. I’d be curious to see how the U.S. reacts.
I’m not saying that legalization is the cure all for what ails Mexico, but done responsibly it’s a step in the right direction. Look, it’s either legalize the stuff or continue fighting a losing battle. What would you suggest?
I dunno…at the very least if Vicente Fox signs this into law this is going to be something very interesting to watch. Desperate times call for drastic measures I suppose…
