New Anti-Drug Plan Doomed to Failure, Reformers Charge

Failure to Consider Fundamental Reforms Guarantees Cartels Will Continue to Dominate Marijuana Trade.

These are the hands of men executed near San Ignacio, Mexico. They are among the latest casualties in the border wars between Mexican drug cartels. Courtesy: nocaptionneeded.com

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The new anti-drug initiative for the Southwestern border announced today by the Obama administration is doomed to failure because it simply dresses up failed policies in new clothing, the Marijuana Policy Project charged today.

"The new plan simply calls for rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic," said MPP director of government relations Aaron Houston.

"The plan ignores the central problem, which is that our policy of marijuana prohibition has handed the Mexican cartels a massive market that keeps them rolling in cash, not just in Mexico, but according to the Department of Justice, in 230 American cities."

Houston noted that federal officials have stated that 60 to 70 percent of the cartels' profits come from the marijuana trade, and that the Mexican government seems to be signaling its unhappiness with the United States' current policy.

"The Mexican Congress strategically scheduled consideration of legislation to remove criminal penalties for marijuana possession to coincide with President Obama's trip there," Houston said.

He also noted that Mexican ambassador to the U.S. Arturo Sarukhán called for the debate on regulating and taxing marijuana to be "taken seriously on both sides of the border" on national television.

"Rather than trying to make America's 15 million monthly marijuana consumers go away, we need to gain control of this market by regulating marijuana like we do beer, wine and liquor," Houston said.

"Any anti-drug effort that leaves the marijuana trade in the hands of the cartels is nothing but a full-employment plan for professional drug warriors and cartel bosses alike, not a serious proposal to address the problem."

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Source: MarijuanaPolicy.org.

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Daniel June 7, 2009 7:22 pm (Pacific time)

I have read in Chris Conrads books about the burning of hash and incense in the Catholic church , hundreds of years ago . I bet if they did that today the Churches would be packed . Mind altering substances have been at the root of many religions , in the east and west . Read Terrence Mckenna , Huxley and Jack Herer .

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MBH June 6, 2009 3:03 pm (Pacific time)

When considering the matter of mind altering substances, it is important to begin at the beginning. The truth is that, as a species, we have, from as far back as we can ascertain, used many different forms of substances and that it was always connected deeply with the spiritual aspects of the growth of social culturization. Only in the last 100 years or so have these substances been demonized by some. There are biblical references to this activity as well, "...and I was in the spirit on that day and saw..."

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Daniel June 5, 2009 9:01 pm (Pacific time)

legalizing marijuana in this country would kill the mexi pot market . Most smokers prefer USA organic grown green bud over crushed harsh moldy stale commercial mexi weed with god knows what sprayed on it , or the over hashed screened chemically grow hydro Canadian bud . Keep the money in the USA LEGALIZE Marijuana . Obama please get away from the failed policies of the past . The people who do not want Marijuana legalized work for the cartels directly or indirectly do their bidding thru their ignorance !

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DBLOOMSLM June 5, 2009 3:28 pm (Pacific time)

Great--- now we have Mexico dictating drug polocies to the United States. Of course they want to legalize weed--it's something else they can export to the US. Let them clean their own house first.

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