Feb 14 2009
Former Latin American Presidents to U.S. - end drug prohibition policies
This past week, three former Latin American presidents told the United States that their drug prohibition policies are not working, and that major drug war reform is necessary. The ex-leaders, whose countries are on the front lines of the war on drugs, said U.S. policies have only filled prisons and increased violence.
Cesar Gaviria , former president of Colombia, said there is no meaningful debate in the U.S., explaining, “The problem today in the U.S. is that narco-trafficking is a crime and so any politician is fearful of talking about narco-trafficking or talking about policies because they will be called soft.”
Agreeing with Gaviria are former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso and former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo . The three have created a group known as the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy, in hopes of changing the debate.
These men have seen the true U.S. war on drugs, and know it has not worked. Prohibition can never work as long as people still want drugs. It seems silly to think of gangs fighting over alcohol, but that is precisely what prohibition of alcohol led to - it essentially created organized crime in America. Yet when prohibition ended, these gangs lost power - thankfully for them the illegal drug market was there, allowing them to rebuild.
Also important to note is that the entire War on Drugs in unconstitutional, and therefore illegal. At least the alcohol prohibitionists had enough respect for the Constitution to get an amendment passed.
Source: Reuters - Latin American ex-leaders urge reform of US drug war February 11, 2009
“At least the alcohol prohibitionists had enough respect for the Constitution to get an amendment passed.”
You know it seems to me other than us and the constitution party, none of the other parties really care about that document. In fact many are in support of changing it and drafting a new one…
After watching congress all week botch democracy in this stimulus package - I shudder to even consider their ability to write a constitution.
The thought is absolutely terrifying.
It pains me every time someone says “the Constitution is outdated” - the founders were intelligent enough to know the would would change and so allowed for the document to be amended. If something as the war on (”bad”) drugs is that important, amend the Constitution.
It can always be amended, but should never be ignored.