Community | February 04, 2010 | 19 comments

Former Mexican Official Urges Legalizing Marijuana

source: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/02/us.mexico.marijuana/

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The United States and Mexico should both legalize marijuana in an attempt to break the power of the Mexican drug cartels and end the spiraling violence south of the border, a former Mexican foreign minister said Tuesday.

Jorge Castaneda, in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, said marijuana "should be legalized in both countries," and said it is ridiculous for Mexico to try to stop marijuana from entering the United States when it's legally sold for medical purposes in California.

"The Drug Enforcement Administration says that 60 percent of the Mexican (drug) cartels' profits come from marijuana. If we start with that, it's a big chunk," he added.

"We can't do everything overnight ... and we can't do it in Mexico if the U.S. doesn't do it at the same time."

Castaneda strongly criticized Mexican President Felipe Calderon for declaring war against the drug cartels, a war that has cost as many as 17,000 lives since he took office in December 2006.

In the past month alone, 900 people were killed -- a new monthly record, he said. Sixteen students died in what's thought to be a drug-related massacre in the border city of Juarez over the weekend.

"It's hard for me quite honestly -- and I think for many Mexicans -- to accept that the more deaths we have, the more successful the strategy is," he added.

"I think President Calderon rushed into this, and now we're paying the consequences."
CONTINUED>>>

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/02/us.mexico.marijuana/
http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/2010/02/04/Former-Mexican-Official-Urg...
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    US,  Marijuana,  Cannabis,  Mexico,  4 more
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19 comments // Former Mexican Official Urges Legalizing Marijuana

  • plethora
    • 0
      plethora  

    • I agree- that is why I don't do drugs!!! Marijuana is a PLANT! Cigarettes and coffee are drugs, as are prescription drugs...not a PLANT, dufus, in that case, tea, spearmint, roses are also drugs.....what a moron

    • 2 years ago
  • carmalite
  • denport
  • QuestionGeek
  • jswiz
    • 0
      jswiz  

    • OBJ , your remarks are laughable at best , you never really back up your reason on why it shouldn't be legalized , I think you only poke your nose on these subject's just to get a rise out of people, really if you don't like it post your own artical on why we shouldn't legalize .

    • 2 years ago
  • ibrake4rappers13
  • hunzedog
  • derk
    • +2
      derk  

    • I took class from Professor Jorge Castaneda (@ CAL) years ago, and the things we discussed are even more relevant today.

      Listen to this wise man and prevent further loss of life in both our countries.

    • 2 years ago
  • obamaisajoke
  • plethora
  • hunzedog
  • hunzedog
  • Conniepae
    • +3
      Conniepae  
    • hunzedog:

      He was talking to CNN, but other news organizations chose to ignore it. I find it funny that they all cover some news, while ignoring others. Is it a consorted effort? Are they instructed to play down, or ignore cannabis hemp news? If they don't report it, it ain't news? The more information available via the internet, the less they will be able to ignore.

    • 2 years ago
  • obamaisajoke
  • hunzedog
    • +5
      hunzedog  
    • obamaisajoke:

      no it just means i quit buying my herbs from them. when i can put a seed in the ground and get it for free...get it >? doubt it. closed minded people never do..dig this ...i dont give a giant rats ass what you . the cops , the feds , hell the fucking president thinks about what i should and should not put in my body..its none of any of your fu(king business...IT IS MY BODY......
      ;

    • 2 years ago
  • kurthsb27
    • +2
      kurthsb27  
    • obamaisajoke:

      just like getting rid of alcohol prohibition didn't get rid of all the mobsters, but it sure made it a lot fucking harder to be a mobster. just like if you legalize weed it would make it kind of hard for the illegal drug dealers. stupid cunt. weed is a plant that grows in the ground that every civilization ever has used and benefited from. why don't you learn something before telling other people how weak-minded they are.

    • 2 years ago
  • Conniepae
    • +4
      Conniepae  

    • One would think this would gain more airtime. How many times did we hear about 'lipstick on a pig'? We heard that comment through a couple news cycles. Or, the 'who's you're daddy' news cycles. I'm tired of it! I'm tired of them picking and choosing what is and is not news.

      Free TV is a thing of the past. They have sold our airwaves. We now pay for television. We should get our monies worth. I think it's sad that people are paying to be misled. Distorting, spinning, or ignoring is misleading.

      How can ordinary Americans make an educated decision if they are not told facts? How can ordinary Americans find agreement, if half of them believe they are not being misled? Distorting, spinning, or ignoring is misleading.

      President Obama would talk about the issue of cannabis hemp, if people were not being misled by MSM. But it's hard to lead people who have been misled by spin. We need to hold news organizations accountable. Distorting, spinning, or ignoring is misleading.

      I don't want my family and friends misled by MSM!

    • 2 years ago
  • plethora
    • +4
      plethora  

    • Hellooooooooooooo! - Of course! - Legalizing would #1 - drive down cartel profits dramatically, since 70%, not 60% comes from POT! - In California, legalization and taxation would generate 22 BILLION per year! for Cali alone!!!

    • 2 years ago
  • csmonut
    • +3
      csmonut  

    • Great idea, if both countries would/could work together to legalize pot.
      There is so much money wrapped up in this "war on drugs" for both sides, that it will take a very strong and determined initiative (read Presidents) on both sides to implement it.

    • 2 years ago
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