I agree 10000% that legalizing all the street drugs eliminates any reason for cartels to exist except for all their other non drug business’s. We did it with mj and suddenly weed laced with fentanyl and other dangerous contaminants disappeared. If all the funding for dea was directed to treatment centres ,lives would be saved, crime goes down and we
Thank you for your comments on the failed states of Mexico, Central and Latin America. Please indulge some comments from me.
The legalization solution that you advocate cannot work in a failed state like the United States. Why ? Too many mentally ill and homeless addicts. Too many outliers that earn fortunes selling illegal drugs ; just look at Canada’s experience with pot. Government controlled pot is way too expensive compared to contraband and not as potent. The American justice, law enforcement and incarceration industries thrive on the myth of the war on drugs and employ tens of thousands in that losing war. The capacity of the Failed States to disrupt the cartels and their enablers and abetters is non existent due to corruption and a lack of commitment.
As a college student in 1968 my economics professor pointed out that the War on Drugs was already failing and his discussion largely predicted the facts in your article. Prohibition cannot, has not, does not, and will not work. It would be interesting to know how many law-and-order politicians receive contributions originating in the cartels.
With drugs a political issue- along with anything and everything...nothing can happen in North America except blame..US is a failed state as much as Ecuador ..Canada one step behind and closing fast
Very disturbing - heart breaking that such beautiful countries where tourist dollars would be so huge yet - the drug situation makes travel there dicey - I most certainly will never travel there - very disturbing situation - great info again Diane!!!
From my experience, the legalization of cannibis in Canada has been a success. People who wish to purchase the product have abundant choice of establishments. Where I live in a small city, there is a plethora of retail outlets. Quality and quantity is superior. Price is likely higher due to overhead but is worth it in order to purchase a regulated product. To clarify only the province of British Columbia has legalized small amounts of current illegal drugs. Time will tell the impact of this policy.
Very Nice article. Get one drug lord another one pops up. By the way here is a contradiction at the time with one drug. During the prohibition many drugs were classified as illegal except for MDMA. That was deemed illegal in the 80's. So one could legally in the 30's till the mid 80's legally take MDMA. Now MDMA is being studied for depression and PTSD.
The "War on drugs" is a war on people. If it was going to work, why hasn't it by now - decades later? And as you have so clearly explained, our "war" has CREATED highly profitable crime.
Our continued belief that if we make a substance illegal, it won't be obtainable is a pathetic fantasy. Anybody remember how tough it was to find a joint when pot was totally illegal? The only question back then was a matter of quality.
We should have learned this eons ago. The prohibition of alcohol didn't work either. All it did was send the cash flow to the crooks.
Once again "American Exceptionalism" demonstrates how exceptionally stupid we are. We claim to be the country of "free enterprise and private business". Here's the thing, this retired business person was trained as a young pup that you looked at your fellow businesses, your competition and you copied their successes - hopefully doing it even better.
So as with so many subjects, we fail to look around the world to see how others have handled social challenges. Germany educates to achieve employment. Australia knows how to do basic retirement planning and...requires people to vote. And as you have pointed out, Europe and Canada treat drug addiction as a health issue to be addressed - not a crime. Costs less, works better! DUH.
I wonder if anyone here connects the dots between our privately run prisons and the drug laws that send drug users there. Hmm. Less crime, less profits. This is a corrupt endless loop of stupidity that our entire society suffers from. But the rich get richer - legally and illegally.
what an eye opener for the average joe- six pak . I suggest the drug cartels are a strong argument for a country to support a healthy & effective military in conjunction with a legalized drug rehab program
I agree 10000% that legalizing all the street drugs eliminates any reason for cartels to exist except for all their other non drug business’s. We did it with mj and suddenly weed laced with fentanyl and other dangerous contaminants disappeared. If all the funding for dea was directed to treatment centres ,lives would be saved, crime goes down and we
Shut down the drug cartels without bullets.
Great article !
Thank you for your comments on the failed states of Mexico, Central and Latin America. Please indulge some comments from me.
The legalization solution that you advocate cannot work in a failed state like the United States. Why ? Too many mentally ill and homeless addicts. Too many outliers that earn fortunes selling illegal drugs ; just look at Canada’s experience with pot. Government controlled pot is way too expensive compared to contraband and not as potent. The American justice, law enforcement and incarceration industries thrive on the myth of the war on drugs and employ tens of thousands in that losing war. The capacity of the Failed States to disrupt the cartels and their enablers and abetters is non existent due to corruption and a lack of commitment.
As a college student in 1968 my economics professor pointed out that the War on Drugs was already failing and his discussion largely predicted the facts in your article. Prohibition cannot, has not, does not, and will not work. It would be interesting to know how many law-and-order politicians receive contributions originating in the cartels.
With drugs a political issue- along with anything and everything...nothing can happen in North America except blame..US is a failed state as much as Ecuador ..Canada one step behind and closing fast
Very disturbing - heart breaking that such beautiful countries where tourist dollars would be so huge yet - the drug situation makes travel there dicey - I most certainly will never travel there - very disturbing situation - great info again Diane!!!
From my experience, the legalization of cannibis in Canada has been a success. People who wish to purchase the product have abundant choice of establishments. Where I live in a small city, there is a plethora of retail outlets. Quality and quantity is superior. Price is likely higher due to overhead but is worth it in order to purchase a regulated product. To clarify only the province of British Columbia has legalized small amounts of current illegal drugs. Time will tell the impact of this policy.
Very Nice article. Get one drug lord another one pops up. By the way here is a contradiction at the time with one drug. During the prohibition many drugs were classified as illegal except for MDMA. That was deemed illegal in the 80's. So one could legally in the 30's till the mid 80's legally take MDMA. Now MDMA is being studied for depression and PTSD.
The "War on drugs" is a war on people. If it was going to work, why hasn't it by now - decades later? And as you have so clearly explained, our "war" has CREATED highly profitable crime.
Our continued belief that if we make a substance illegal, it won't be obtainable is a pathetic fantasy. Anybody remember how tough it was to find a joint when pot was totally illegal? The only question back then was a matter of quality.
We should have learned this eons ago. The prohibition of alcohol didn't work either. All it did was send the cash flow to the crooks.
Once again "American Exceptionalism" demonstrates how exceptionally stupid we are. We claim to be the country of "free enterprise and private business". Here's the thing, this retired business person was trained as a young pup that you looked at your fellow businesses, your competition and you copied their successes - hopefully doing it even better.
So as with so many subjects, we fail to look around the world to see how others have handled social challenges. Germany educates to achieve employment. Australia knows how to do basic retirement planning and...requires people to vote. And as you have pointed out, Europe and Canada treat drug addiction as a health issue to be addressed - not a crime. Costs less, works better! DUH.
I wonder if anyone here connects the dots between our privately run prisons and the drug laws that send drug users there. Hmm. Less crime, less profits. This is a corrupt endless loop of stupidity that our entire society suffers from. But the rich get richer - legally and illegally.
what an eye opener for the average joe- six pak . I suggest the drug cartels are a strong argument for a country to support a healthy & effective military in conjunction with a legalized drug rehab program
Thank you. Great breakdown, Diane. No easy solutions.
Actually the best cure is to stop drug use. The experiment has failed. The Counter Culture is so many Lemmings
Very interesting thank you