Latin Americans ditch 'war on drugs'

**DrB0b** · 31-08-2009, 09:07 PM

Latin Americans ditch 'war on drugs'
from The Guardian World News by Rory Carroll, Jo Tuckman, Tom Phillips

In a backlash against the US 'war on drugs', Latin America turns to a more liberal policy

Argentina and Mexico have taken significant steps towards decriminalising drugs amid a growing Latin American backlash against the US-sponsored "war on drugs".

Argentina's supreme court has ruled it unconstitutional to punish people for using marijuana for personal consumption, an eagerly awaited judgment that gave the government the green light to push for further liberalisation.

It followed Mexico's decision to stop prosecuting people for possession of relatively small quantities of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs. Instead, they will be referred to clinics and treated as patients, not criminals.

Brazil and Ecuador are also considering partial decriminalisation as part of a regional swing away from a decades-old policy of crackdowns still favoured by Washington.

"The tide is clearly turning. The 'war on drugs' strategy has failed," Fernando Henrique Cardoso, a former Brazilian president, told the Guardian. Earlier this year, he and two former presidents of Colombia and Mexico published a landmark report calling for a new departure.

"The report of the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy has certainly helped to open up the debate about more humane and efficient policies. But, most of all, the facts are speaking by themselves," said Cardoso.

Reform campaigners have long argued that criminalisation enriched drug cartels, fuelled savage turf wars, corrupted state institutions and filled prisons with addicts who presented no real threat to society.

The US used its considerable influence to keep Latin America and the UN wedded to hardline policies which kept the focus on interdictions and jail sentences for consumers as well as dealers. The "war" was first declared by the Nixon administration.

The economic and social cost, plus European moves towards liberalisation, have emboldened some Latin American states to try new approaches.

Argentina's supreme court, presented with a case about youths arrested with a few joints, ruled last week that such behaviour did not violate the constitution. "Each adult is free to make lifestyle decisions without the intervention of the state," it said.

The government, which favours decriminalisation, is expected to amend laws in light of the ruling. The court stressed, however, that it was not approving complete decriminalisation, a move that would be fiercely resisted by the Catholic church and other groups.

The previous week the government of Mexico, which has endured horrific drug-related violence, made it no longer an offence to possess 0.5g of cocaine (the equivalent of about four lines), 5g of marijuana (about four joints), 50mg of heroin and 40mg of methamphetamine.

Three years ago, Mexico backtracked on similar legislation after the initiative triggered howls of outrage in the US and predictions that Cancún and other resorts would become world centres of narcotics tourism.

Now, however, the authorities quietly say they need to free up resources and jail space for a military-led war on the drug cartels, even while publicly justifying that offensive to the Mexican public with the slogan "to stop the drugs reaching your children". They also argue corrupt police officers will be deterred from extorting money from drug users.

Washington did not protest against the announcement, which was kept deliberately low key. "They made no fanfare so as not to arouse the ire of the US," said Walter McKay, of the Mexico City-based Institute for Security and Democracy. "I predict that when the US sees its nightmare has not come true and that there is no narco-tourist boom it will come under more pressure to legalise or decriminalise."

Some US states have decriminalised the possession of small amounts of marijuana and the Obama administration has emphasised public health solutions to drug abuse, giving Latin America more breathing room, said Kasia Malinowska-Sempruch, director of the Global Drug Policy Programme. "My hope is that Latin America will be the next region, after most of Europe, where evidence and science will be the basis for policy-making."

Argentina and Mexico's moves may encourage other governments to follow suit. A new law has been mooted in Ecuador, where President Rafael Correa last year pardoned 1,500 "mules" who had been sentenced to jail. His late father was a convicted mule.

Brazil's supreme court, as well as elements in Congress and the justice ministry, favour decriminalising possession of small quantities of drugs, said Maria Lúcia Karam, a former judge who has joined the advocacy group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.

She welcomed the moves towards decriminalisation but said repression remained a cornerstone of drug policy. "Unfortunately the 'war on drugs' mentality is still the dominant policy approach in Latin America. The only way to reduce violence in Mexico, Brazil or anywhere else is to legalise the production, supply and consumption of all drugs."
Mexico and Argentina move towards decriminalising drugs | World news | guardian.co.uk

**gjbkk** · 31-08-2009, 09:17 PM

You would have thought that the US wankers would have learnt something from the probation

**Attilla the Hen** · 31-08-2009, 09:22 PM

I'm quite sure the USA are aware that the War on Drugs has failed and it would be much better to decriminalize it, but, it would be political suicide for any politician to actually say this.
Moral cowardice.

**killerbees** · 31-08-2009, 10:23 PM

^^Prohibition. And, yes, you would think that they would have learned something from it: it's a great way to make a load of cash.

**blackgang** · 31-08-2009, 10:38 PM

OH YES, Prohibition is what made the Kennedys rich running illegal booze from Canada.
My great grandfather made a ton of money making bootleg booze in Oregon.
And I think that all drugs should be legal in the USA as I do not have to live there anymore.

**English Noodles** · 31-08-2009, 10:45 PM

^This is 2 nights in a row you have posted after 9pm, is your nurse out playing?

**Attilla the Hen** · 31-08-2009, 10:46 PM

Make drugs the same as tobacco.
Legalize it, tax it at exhorbitant rates, educate, then put a negative social stigma on people that continue to use.
Definitely worked with cigarette smokers.

**English Noodles** · 31-08-2009, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by Attilla the Hen

Make drugs the same as tobacco. Legalize it, tax it at exhorbitant rates, educate, then put a negative social stigma on people that continue to use. Definitely worked with cigarette smokers.

Yeh, theres not much demand for black market tobacco

, I think part of the idea is to price the criminals out of the game.

**lysander** · 31-08-2009, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Latin Americans ditch 'war on drugs'
from The Guardian World News by Rory Carroll, Jo Tuckman, Tom Phillips

In a backlash against the US 'war on drugs', Latin America turns to a more liberal policy

Argentina and Mexico have taken significant steps towards decriminalising drugs amid a growing Latin American backlash against the US-sponsored "war on drugs".

Argentina's supreme court has ruled it unconstitutional to punish people for using marijuana for personal consumption, an eagerly awaited judgment that gave the government the green light to push for further liberalisation.

It followed Mexico's decision to stop prosecuting people for possession of relatively small quantities of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs. Instead, they will be referred to clinics and treated as patients, not criminals.

That's the way it used to be in the UK before the US put pressure on us to join the 'War.' We had approx 5,000 registered heroin addicts who used to get proper medical grade heroin and needles on prescription from their GPs. There was no drug-related crime. Nowadays there are 1000s of unregistered and thus unknown junkies using dirty heroin and dirty needles which spreads all sorts of diseases and the majority of petty and not so petty crime is drug-related. Not a war that we appear to be winning.

**English Noodles** · 01-09-2009, 12:08 AM

Anyone who is really interested in the subject should take a look at this.

American.Drug.War.The.Last.White.Hope.avi

**BobR** · 01-09-2009, 06:13 AM

The war on drugs has always been a convenient excuse to undermine civil liberties. Now that the American Government has sold the ignorant on its war on terror, it no longer needs the drug war excuse anyway.

**ItsRobsLife** · 01-09-2009, 07:06 AM

Another good reason to ditch Thailands 'war on reality' and go West.

**blackgang** · 01-09-2009, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by Attilla the Hen

Make drugs the same as tobacco. Legalize it, tax it at exhorbitant rates, educate, then put a negative social stigma on people that continue to use. Definitely worked with cigarette smokers.

Yes, give it to newbies until the monkey starts to scratch, But only supply lactos cut stuff.
Then raise the tax and prices and soon there after lace it with cyanide, Or give em pure smack and let em Hot Shot. problem solved

**Another Farang** · 01-09-2009, 09:23 AM

Bravo!

about time!!

Up yours gringos!

**Mr R Sole** · 01-09-2009, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Argentina's supreme court has ruled it unconstitutional to punish people for using marijuana for personal consumption, an eagerly awaited judgment that gave the government the green light to push for further liberalisation. It followed Mexico's decision to stop prosecuting people for possession of relatively small quantities of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs. Instead, they will be referred to clinics and treated as patients, not criminals.

Oh my lord, they're gonna get it now...C.I.A are getting ready to install their own people in the whole of Latin America...Where's Hugo on this one. Hates the Americans...thought he'd be all over this...

Originally Posted by DrB0b

a move that would be fiercely resisted by the Catholic church and other groups.

Hang on earlier they said that people are free to make their own life decisions??? So what he 'hell' has the Catholic church got to do with that.... Isn't religion a life choice??
"What god wants, god gets, god help us all."

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Three years ago, Mexico backtracked on similar legislation after the initiative triggered howls of outrage in the US and predictions that Cancún and other resorts would become world centres of narcotics tourism.

Oh and you couldn't get what you wanted then???? Come on who are they trying to kid???? Tihuanna anyone...anything???

Originally Posted by DrB0b

The only way to reduce violence in Mexico, Brazil or anywhere else is to legalise the production, supply and consumption of all drugs."

Well done for waking up!! America (south) the north may takemany more years...conditioning's a bitch ain't it...

Originally Posted by gjbkk

You would have thought that the US wankers would have learnt something from the probation

Originally Posted by Attilla the Hen

Moral cowardice.

Yep, just ask the American Indians...is that no longer PC..native Americans??

Originally Posted by Attilla the Hen

Definitely worked with cigarette smokers.

Sorry can't type anymore, just nipping outside for a fag (UK slang for cigarette)

Originally Posted by lysander

Not a war that we appear to be winning.

Never have been!!! It was just a rouse so people wouldn't see what was really going on behind the facade.

Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife

Another good reason to ditch Thailands 'war on reality' and go West.

I'm searching Dave'sESL right now...job's in Mexico... bringing my Thai wife and kid OK????

Smoke up Johney..

beautiful, serves a thousand different purposes...just ridiculous to make nature illegal...On a religious note...does that mean that you're saying 'God' was wrong and made mistake???
I've never been that presumptuous.. The late great Bill Hicks.

**Muadib** · 01-09-2009, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by English Noodles

Anyone who is really interested in the subject should take a look at this.

American.Drug.War.The.Last.White.Hope.avi

Hmm, where have I seen this before...

https://teakdoor.com/the-multimedia-f...ml#post1139450

**Butterfly** · 01-09-2009, 11:04 AM

Another American failure,

did they ever won any war ? they sound more French than anything, maybe there is hope for them

**Butterfly** · 01-09-2009, 11:08 AM

Another American failure,

did they ever won any war ? they sound more French than anything, maybe there is hope for them

**DrB0b** · 01-09-2009, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Another American failure,

did they ever won any war ? they sound more French than anything, maybe there is hope for them

They won a war with Spain, of course they forget to tell the other side there was actually going to be a war before they attacked. Coincidentally, that war was started by the American media, "Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain", and that's where they first used waterboarding on their prisoners.

**AntRobertson** · 01-09-2009, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Another American failure,

did they ever won any war ? they sound more French than anything, maybe there is hope for them

They should just declare a war on nouns and be done with it. 'The War on Nouns' - I like it, has a nice ring to it...

'Nouns hate our Freedom and Way of Life...'

'The Axis of Evil Nouns...'

'You're either with us, or an Evil Noun...'

'Waterboarding Nouns is not torture...'

**robuzo** · 01-09-2009, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Another American failure,

did they ever won any war ? they sound more French than anything, maybe there is hope for them

They won a war with Spain, of course they forget to tell the other side there was actually going to be a war before they attacked. Coincidentally, that war was started by the American media, "Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain", and that's where they first used waterboarding on their prisoners.

I think the waterboarding and the concentration camps were after the actual war, when the US was in the "betray the people you 'liberated'" phase.

**Mr R Sole** · 01-09-2009, 11:42 AM

So you see, the evidence just isn't there for this moronic 'War on Drugs' it just doesn't work and man made products are far more of a risk to your health. FACT.

**Muadib** · 01-09-2009, 12:00 PM

Just like the US military industrial complex, the powers that be are addicted to the billions in funding they receive to wage the war on drugs... Truly moronic if you ask me...

Just another glaring example of the US government having an agenda that most citizens in the US appose... An estimated 85% of US citizens have smoked cannabis at one time in their lives...

**pickel** · 01-09-2009, 02:13 PM

I read somewhere before that about $300 billion of illegal drug money is laundered through banks and stock markets every year. What would happen if that opportunity was lost by those institutions? Perhaps that's the real reason for the war on drugs.

**Muadib** · 01-09-2009, 02:25 PM

If you watch the film EN posted on page 1, it tells the entire story of how the US intelligista secretly endorse and facilitate the drug trade to do just that, funnel billions into their coffers for covert actions, along with controlling certain aspects of the populace through addiction, then prosecute the same folks and place them in US prisons... Which is another multi-billion dollar industry...

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