What a great idea! Now decriminalize murder the murder rate to drop to zero, just like magic!
We shall see. Maybe the current pushers will get themselves so tripped out that they will be unable to do Mexico any more harm!
The big draw isn’t domestic to Mexico but northward in the USA. When THAT stops paying big bucks, we may learn something.
Ridiculous. Weed is one matter, Cocaine is another matter entirely.
Cocaine is wildly addictive and potentially lethal. Period. And, addiction to cocaine can begin - depending on the user - very quickly after even it's first use. Also, one line of cocaine can, and has killed. Presumably, many people don't even dabble with cocaine in the first place because of it's illegality and it's cumbersome retail distribution. With that stigma and those barriers removed, the end result will undoubtedly be more addiction and more addicts. Mexico is expanding the problem, exponentially, not reducing it.
There's absolutely NO similarity to cocaine and it's addictive as well as lethal properties and to marijuana. While I'll stipulate to the possible and even probable benefits of decriminalizing marijuana - a drug that really is less addictive than alcohol, and rarely if ever kills anyone - but, to decriminalize even a small amount of cocaine is opening a Pandora's box and stoking the flames of addiction.
Public and government to gangs: you've won.
It seems to me that the corruption does not come from the user but from the big guys running the drug operations. THEY are the ones with the BIG BUCKS to bribe anyone and everyone. Why doesn’t Mexico just declare a 10 year moratorium on enforcement of all drug laws?
Large numbers of Americans will now head to Mexico for their drugs, because they will be CHEAPER. Americans bringing the drugs back over the border will be even more frequent.
And some will die, because of it. And Mexico will have to deal with the social costs of it’s decision, as well.
I see nothing good coming from this.
“Well, it’s a start...remove the incentive for a black market and things MIGHT improve. *SHRUG* “
Actually, it’s the worst possible solution.
Incentives for a black market skyrocket in this situation. Demand increases because there are no remaining penalties on users. But Supply continues to be restricted. Price goes up. Profits from drug trafficking go up. There is more money to fight over. Traffickers fight over it and pay more politicians for protection.
There are two stable points in handling drugs: (1) The Singapore model—user’s and traffickers are severely punished without exception; and (2) Everything is legal.
In between those extremes, corruption and trafficking are rampant.
Does this apply to turistas?
That’s it Mexico! Give your citizens all the drugs they want, but NEVER the 2nd amendment where they might be able to protect themselves from these narco terrorists!
Legalization will have to include production and sales to end the black market. That would help a bit, but only in Mexico.
The big improvement would come with total legalization in the US. That would really starve the beast.
Hey, KEEN!! Tell Shortshanks about this! He can decriminalize murder and Chicago will become crime-free!!!