Mexico and Argentina’s recent decisions to decriminalize the personal use of drugs mark a growing trend across Latin America to reject the now-40-year-old, U.S.-led, Nixon-founded “war on drugs” as both harmful and ineffective. —J.C.
The Guardian:
Bruno Avangera, a 40-year-old web designer from Tucumán in Argentina, pauses to relight a half-smoked joint of cannabis. Then he speaks approvingly of “progress and the right decision” by the country’s seven supreme court judges, who decided last week that prosecuting people for the private consumption of small amounts of narcotics was unconstitutional.
“Last year three of my friends were caught smoking a spliff in a park and were treated like traffickers,” he said. “They went to court, which took six months. One went to jail alongside murderers. The others were sent to rehab, where they were treated for an addiction they didn’t have, alongside serious heroin and crack users. It was pointless and destroyed their lives.”
The court’s ruling was based on a case involving several men caught with joints in their pockets. As a result, judges struck down an existing law stipulating a sentence of up to two years in jail for those caught with any amount of narcotics. “Each individual adult is responsible for making decisions freely about their desired lifestyle without state interference,” the ruling said. “Private conduct is allowed unless it constitutes a real danger or causes damage to property or the rights of others.”
Is the “war on drugs” ending? The Argentinian ruling does not stand alone. Across Latin America and Mexico, there is a wave of drug law reform which constitutes a stark rebuff to the United States as it prepares to mark the 40th anniversary of a conflict officially declared by President Richard Nixon and fronted by his wife, Pat, in 1969.
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By stcfarms, September 7, 2009 at 3:00 pm Link to this comment
I have already decided to leave, I can do what I want out on the ocean.
Report thisBy shemp333, September 7, 2009 at 11:32 am Link to this comment
Tony Wicker and stcfarms,
Great posts guys. I could go on for years on this subject, and believe me I already have. These victimless crimes that you talk about are huge. I really don’t know what to do about it anymore.
There’s a great song on Hempilation 2 called, “Dope Dogs” by George Clinton. One lyric goes,
Report this“There’s more profit in pretending that we’re stopping it, than selling it. It’s the money and it ain’t funny.”
By stcfarms, September 7, 2009 at 10:09 am Link to this comment
By the year 2046 half of all Americans will be in prison, on parole or
Report thisprobation. This is not from a science fiction novel, it is taken from the
department of justice figures. Our government has declared war on the
citizens of America. Where will we house all of the cell phone owners,
people that refuse to wear helmets, fat people? These are all groups coming
under pressure from the fed to change. The Declaration of Independence
gaurentees the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This
last right brings into question a number of laws already on the books, laws
against prostitution, gambling, drugs, public drinking, public nudity, not
wearing seat belts, the list is endless. Congress has no right to ban
behavior because they find it offensive, they only have the right to ban
behavior that harms others. Fortunately for us congress has chosen to
ignore one major right that is in the Declaration of Independence, the right
to fire their ciminal asses. It clearly states that if the government does
not serve the needs of the people that they have the right to replace it. I
think it is time to do that before we are all in prison.
By Tony Wicher, September 7, 2009 at 9:37 am Link to this comment
Cannabis is so harmless and truly beneficial in many
Report thisways that there is really no point in any laws
restricting it. Addictive drugs such as cocaine and
heroin should be provided to registered users by the
government. Users would be required to get regular
medical checkups and counselling. This is the way to
put drug gangs out of business.
By dihey, September 7, 2009 at 8:58 am Link to this comment
Thank you for reminding us that it was Richard Nixon who moved the use of Marijuana from “misdemeanor” to “crime” and thereby starting our jail bubble.
Report thisBy brian, September 7, 2009 at 8:36 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
The Observer carried an interesting article by former Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso on how the war on drugs had failed and it was time for a rethink. I linked to it here.
Report thisBy coloradokarl, September 6, 2009 at 9:25 pm Link to this comment
When people talk about “drug problems” I always think it is the laws that cause 99% of the problems. Marijuana in this country is illegal because William Randolf Hurst saw Hemp as a threat to his timber empire and mongered the fear of “those hopped up Mexicans” to the American Sheeple. The people who call for strict drug laws are the ones who benefit from the drug war industrial complex. Their hell is waiting gleefully for eternal damnation…........
Report thisBy Rodger Lemonde, September 6, 2009 at 8:18 pm Link to this comment
Give big pharma OTC narcotics in return for affordable
Report thisdrugs for medical conditions. There is a bit of change
to conjure with.
Drug busts have ruined more lives than the drugs alone
would have.
By msgmi, September 6, 2009 at 6:48 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Draconian drug laws of the 20th century legislated by political cretins. What else can be expected from from legislators who are under a spell of illusion.
Report thisBy anaman51, September 6, 2009 at 1:50 pm Link to this comment
I fully expect that the Government of the United States will remain locked in arrogant denial of the realities of this situation even after eventually being left alone as the sole remaining signatory on that agreement.
Prior to creating his war on drugs, Richard Nixon was handed the results of a study on marijuana that indicated the benign truth about the herb, rather than supporting the decades of ignorance and lies perpetuated by controlling interests in law enforcement, the pharmaceutical industry, and Congress. He threw the report in the trash can without opening the cover, and then orchestrated this farce of an agreement with the South and Central American countries that were being financially supported in some manner by America. Of course, the implied threat was that either they supported the agreement, or the money tap would be turned off.
The other nations are tired of cleaning up the blood and are coming to their senses, finally realizing that morality cannot be legislated, and that people will do as they please despite high-minded prohibition efforts. The crime and violence brought about by the criminalization of the drugs in question is evidence enough that Nixon’s war on drugs is a total failure, and has designated entire generations of ordinary people as criminals as a result.
People are dying over this stupidity, but the lawmakers of our nation still cannot bring themselves to admit the drug war is lost, and to reverse the situation. It’s time to do the right thing, right now, before more misery is visited on innocent people who have harmed no one.
Report thisBy shemp333, September 6, 2009 at 12:10 pm Link to this comment
It’s about ****ing time already. Now if the US could just pull it’s head out of it’s ass….
Report this