Some Latin American countries rethink drug policy

(CBS News) The legalization of marijuana use in Colorado and Washington is putting some Latin American governments in an awkward position. After four decades on the front lines of the U.S. government's drug wars, some countries are now wondering if it was worth the cost.

It is no longer a criminal act to possess small amounts of marijuana in Mexico and nine other Latin American countries.

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Producing and selling those drugs remains illegal. But after decades of battling drug lords and seizing and burning illicit drugs, the presidents of Guatemala, Colombia and Mexico -- crucial allies in America's war on drugs -- are wondering if they are fighting a losing battle.

"Look at Mexico the past six years," John Walsh of the Washington Office on Latin America. "More than 60,000 dead in their drug wars, and that's just one country."

This week, the presidents of Mexico, Belize, Honduras and Costa Rica called for an international debate on legalization.

"There is a real concern over rising crime and, in particular, violence," said Walsh. "So rather than just escalate the routine enforcement, they have decided that we ought to look at a legal regulated market as a possible solution."

According to the U.N, cannabis, which includes marijuana and hashish, is the world's most widely-used illicit substance.

[Freedom_111]

Ending the war on drugs will save BILLIONS per year. That's not chump change. It's very disturbing to me that people can't see the logic behind keeping this wonderful plant legal.. Even if you believe it has the "potential for abuse," just ask yourself if you'd rather see someone using a natural herb that is safe and effective or would you rather see them abusing a synthetic? http://www.kratom-k.com

[knowa2]

Please sign the White House petition to let Marc Emery complete his sentence in Canada
http://wh.gov/XXp9

[knowa2]

Please sign the White House petition to let Marc Emery complete his sentence in Canada
http://wh.gov/XXp9

[Robert_Marcos]

My question is, how is the DEA going to respond to the legalization measures in Washington and Colorado? Here in California they continue to throttle sales by seizing property where marijuana dispensaries operate.

It seems to me that the DEA has no interest in updating its policies or of obeying the new laws voted for by a democratic majority. And of course the DEA still lists marijuana as a class one controlled substance, meaning that it is extremely addictive and has no medical use. This has to be changed.

[Alan_1969]

What is ironic is that many people are all for legalizing marijuana, but at the same time want to ban tobacco..all tobacco use because of second hand smoke. Chewing tobacco doesn't have the same issues as smoking tobacco, but they want to ban it too. Where is the logic in banning one and legalizing the other? Instead of people getting killed for dealing marijuana, they will just kill to deal tobacco. If marijuana is going to be legalized, then they need to leave the tobacco companies alone.

[panamadave33]

Like Aldolph knew that cigarettes like pot hurts the productivity of the workers and any thing that hurts productivity is not good for the industrial state. Hitler was the first to ban cigarettes!

[kevin_hunt]

I am not for banning tobacco, but it is highly carcinogenic. Chewing tobacco causes cancer, chewing marijuana does not.

[bobnjersey]

[If marijuana is going to be legalized, then they need to leave the tobacco companies alone.]
-----------------------------------
so ... how many packs are you smoking a day?

[annunakix]

And the International House of Cards begins to fall. It is truly about time. This change will be quite rapid. Mexico will likely legalize and regulate marijuana and others will follow prompting the legalization and regulation within the rest of the US. My bet is that there will be massive revamping of marijuana laws in key locations within the next year, then an avalanche of legalization in many major areas worldwide in the next 5. 10 years from now we'll look back on this as we do now about prohibition of alcohol.

[JoseofTexas]

Either the federal government legalize marijuana and issue an apology to the American people for all the money they wasted and all the lives they ruined or I hope they fall off the fiscal cliff and never come back.

[chux93]

As a freedom loving Washingtonian besides saying it's about time or what took so long, what I'll say is that somebody (some state) had to be first and show the country and the rest of the world the how to about legalizing marijuana. Overwhelming voter support is what made the difference here. It's only fitting that it was a STATE named Washington (and Colorado) that led the way. The same Washington state that voted overwhelmingly with 60% for President Obama. Anyway, right now it doesn't matter, as on December 6th as far as the state of Washington is concerned, possession of up to an ounce of pot is legal. And the sole question on the minds of the people in the crowd I hang with is, now that pot is (going to be) legal, what can I do to profit from the coming new day, that involves the plant that I've personally invested countless hours in, with past risks to large to mention, on a plant I've learned to love, respect & cultivate to wide renown (to where now I'm a Master Gardener of all things that grow but especially with pot where I earned my wings) both indoors and out??? That could be THE compelling question that will be asked again and again here at the start of this grand.....experiment in Washington state. And I for one can hardly believe my fortuitous good luck about being right here, right now - even IF the world is going to end on December 21, 2012 according to the Mayans and their calendar, just a few short weeks from now. See?? The Mayans even knew way back when that Washington state would be the place to be in late 2012. And a LOT of us here tend to agree. Good luck everyone!!!