Obama: Drug legalization not the answer to cartels

President Barack Obama participates in a three-way conversation with Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff and Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos (not pictured) at the CEO Summit of the Americas, in Cartagena, Colombia, Saturday, April 14, 2012. / AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

(AP) CARTAGENA, Colombia - President Barack Obama said Saturday legalizing drug use is not the answer to trafficking in illegal narcotics in the Americas, countering a growing chorus in Latin America to discuss decriminalization as a way to ease deadly cartel violence.

Mr. Obama says he is open to having a debate about legalization, but he doesn't believe it will lead to an agreement to legalize drugs.

President Obama was speaking to an assembly of top executives from the hemisphere as part of the sixth Summit of the Americas here.

The president said the answer to the drug cartels is societies that have strong economics, rules of law, and a law enforcement infrastructure that is sound.

He said the responsibility also rests with countries that are big destinations for the drugs to reduce demand for illegal narcotics.

[smittyc]

The answer to the drug cartels is simple. Close the borders. They have been killing themselves down there for hundreds of years over their drugs. You can't stick a shovel in the ground anywhere without finding bodies, people murdered by druggies on mind altering drugs. The only thing the drug wars have done is uncover the violence, the overall battles have always been between the druggies.

[honestabe8]

If you want prohibition, this is one of the results

[Molly-Pchr]

Can just imagine the weaklings who can't say no now, just wait until it's legal.

[honestabe8]

yeah, the booze pushers are going to be in a world of hurt

[thefreeradical]

GET UP! STAND UP STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHT!

Join the movement! Get mad, get active and ORGANIZED!

California needs YOUR HELP to legalize cannabis this year. It will not happen without your efforts! Stand up! Fight back! Become the change you wish to see in the world.


http://www.facebook.com/groups/cchhi2012/

[smittyc]

I hold the overall state of California, its policies and politics in contempt. With 2000 murders a year and drug violence the highest in the nation except for Puerto Rico, I hope you get your cannibis, you, your family and children deserve the ghettos, crime and violence that legalization will bring. I hope California state officials make it a law that police firefighters doctors and nurse all be high while on the job and demonstrate the same behavior you look forward to when you need their services.

[honestabe8]

I am sure that California is stinging over that, smitty. Your bloviating about what legalization will bring is just more of your continuing stream of verbal diarrhea. Support your claim

[Herne42]

So making more violence happen is the answer? ...Our government is SICK and TWISTED....Our government is being run by a bunch of deranged mobsters....Bent on power, money and the need to jail half of America's youth.

the prohibition of Marijuana was POSITIVELY the most incredibly STUPID thing our government OVERLORDS have every done.

(well.... George Washington lying to us Natives about building past the Appalachians after we helped kick out the British.)...something you white people don't like to write about is worse in my opinion. anyways......

Ending at the very least....the prohibition of Marijuana, will...
1. maybe not end all criminal elements of drug cartels....but 60% less profits... equates to about 60% less guns...not perfect...but a good start.
2. Millions of jobs, Trillions in Tax revenue...just by taxing the by-products of pot... Oil- translates into bio-fuels, plastics, rubber... the fibers....superior building supplies.....medicines...(no medicinal purposes?...OUR government are LIARS)
3. Everyday...to make room for non-violent drug offenses..pedophiles and KNOWN violent criminals are released. (politicians live in compounds with security.... and their children go to private schools)......this is NOT acceptable.
.......if I catch some pervert checking out a kid down the street....the lynchings will begin!...who ever thinks registering a sexual predator is a good idea...should be taken to a field... and shot.

I will vote for the first candidate who, 1. will not take money from big industry. and 2. end this pathetic excuse of a prohibition against the will of mother nature.

We need to DEMAND an end to this foolish idea of adult cookie jar, focus on EDUCATION and regulation, and END the prohibition of Marijuana!

Hope you all enjoyed my Sunday evening rant.

[honestabe8]

herne: don't forget that it would give americans a less addictive, less toxic alternative to alcohol

[LetUSABe]

Oh yeah Obama, legalization of drugs won't end drug cartel? then what will,doing the same thing through police force and prison. A lot of know that the banks worldwide are making billions off the cartel sales and thus bailing them out! Wars domestically and over-seas is all our Govt seems to want and they are the real terrorists. Then when they get injured, why just give them some legal drugs and get them hooked and make even more money off society. Wow, they've got us pegged, conned and they'll manipulate us anyway they want to, because we are their personal piggy-banks and prisoner's. Elect Ron Paul people before it's to late for Americans to dare call for positive changes. Elect a man who sincerely knows and cares about us.

[wardove]

he gets a f i will not vote for him

[justplainjohn]

Of course the President is right. Don't yall ever watch the movies? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028589/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028346/ Just one puff off a 'reefer' and you're doomed. <sarcasm off>

[Samlv]

Legalized DOMESTICALLY GROWN pot would be, though.

Demand would slide and we'd dominate the world's supply.

[honestabe8]

Not to mention that it will be a boon to the indoor gardening supply industry and the family farms

[clydealan2]

I am so disappointed with the President's stance on this. And disappointed on him signing the NDAA which includes a provision for our government to detain indefinitely anyone they determine committed a belligerent act against the US or in collaboration with our enemies. Nobody was more excited than I when President Elect Obama stood in Grand Park with his family to the roaring approval of thousands. Tears and goosbumps from this ole white guy 'cause he came and conquered evils of the right wing nuts. Those same nuts that gave us NDAA and approve of ignoring any meaningful change to the way this country does not fight the status quo drug supply and demand. I will probably vote for him again but only as the lesser of two evils.

[VinceD2]

The Republicans trying to have fiscal responsibility?? Now THERE is a load of Kool-Aid.

The R's ran up the debt under Rayguns, and W, or have you forgotten that...

No worries, I'm not defending the Dems either, but please let's have alittle honesty here. The R's are not one iota better than the dems.

We need new parties, and more than 2 so we have some REAL choices.

[honestabe8]

"But only the republicans are trying for some fiscal reponsibility."

Yeah, that drug war is such a good use of diminished taxpayer funding

[Suzanimal]

"(AP) CARTAGENA, Colombia - President Barack Obama said Saturday legalizing drug use is not the answer to trafficking in illegal narcotics in the Americas, countering a growing chorus in Latin America to discuss decriminalization as a way to ease deadly cartel violence.
Mr. Obama says he is open to having a debate about legalization, but he doesn't believe it will lead to an agreement to legalize drugs."

Decriminalization is NOT the same as legalization, maybe Obama needs a dictionary.

"While decriminalized acts are no longer crimes, they may still be the subject of penalties; for example a monetary fine in place of a criminal charge for the possession of a decriminalized drug. This should be contrasted with legalization, which removes all or most legal detriments from a previously illegal act."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decriminalization