UPDATE!!! UPDATE!!! Want to make sure that your members of Congress get the message that the U.S. drug war fuels Mexican violence? Then check out my commentary today in The Hill — Congress’ insider newspaper and website. Read my commentary here, and please leave feedback on their board. Your members of Congress will see it, I promise.
It was less than one year ago when acting U.S. DEA administrator Michelle Leonhart publicly declared that the escalating violence on the U.S./Mexico border should be viewed as a sign of the “success” of America’s drug war strategies.
“Our view is that the violence we have been seeing is a signpost of the success our very courageous Mexican counterparts are having,” said Michele Leonhart, who was recently nominated by President Obama to be the agency’s full time director. “The cartels are acting out like caged animals, because they are caged animals.”
Well, if the DEA’s chief talking head thought that some 6,300 drug cartel-related murders in 2008 was an indication of progress, one can only imagine that she believes that this weekend’s south-of-the-border killing spree — which included the murder of a pregnant U.S. official and members of her family — must be downright victorious.
To rest of us, however, these acts are nothing short of a senseless tragedy — a tragedy made all that much more heart-wrenching because it is U.S. policy that is helping to fuel this violence.
As I wrote last year in the commentary, “How to End Mexico’s Deadly Drug War”:
Wire-service reports estimate that Mexico’s drug lords employ over 100,000 soldiers — approximately as many as the Mexican army — and that the cartels’ wealth, intimidation, and influence extend to the highest echelons of law enforcement and government. Where do the cartels get their unprecedented wealth and power? By trafficking in illicit drugs — primarily marijuana — over the border into the United States.
The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy … says that more than 60 percent of the profits reaped by Mexican drug lords are derived from the exportation and sale of cannabis to the American market. … (By comparison, only about 28 percent of their profits are derived from the distribution of cocaine, and less than 1 percent comes from trafficking methamphetamine.) … Government officials estimate that approximately half the marijuana consumed in the United States originates from outside its borders, and they have identified Mexico as far and away America’s largest pot provider.
If the Obama administration wishes to once and for all reduce this unprecedented wave of Mexican drug-gang violence, then it needs to remove the drug lord’s primary source of income — and that’s marijuana trafficking.
Despite 70+ years of criminal prohibition in the United States (and countless billions of dollars spent attempting to interdict marijuana at our southern border), America remains the primary destination for Mexican pot. Why? Because like it or not, Americans consume cannabis; in fact, Americans lead the world in their consumption of pot.
According to a 2007 economic assessment, U.S. citizens spend $113 billion dollars annually to consume an estimated 31.1 million pounds of pot. According to the federal government, over 100 million Americans have used marijuana; over one in ten Americans do so regularly. In short, criminal marijuana prohibition does not, and will not, reduce demand. So then it’s time to regulate the supply.
It is time to remove the production and distribution of marijuana out of the hands of violent criminal enterprises and into the hands of licensed businesses, and the only way to do that is through legalization.
Or, I suppose, we could just keep on doing what we’ve been doing.
On Monday I joined Judge Andrew Napolitano on FoxNews.com to discuss how marijuana legalization — not increasing levels of government prohibition — would quell the violence surrounding the trafficking of Mexican marijuana. You can watch the video here.
The Judge ‘gets it;’ let’s hope that the administration will one day ‘get it’ too.
I once seen a Bio On the Zetas on the History channel, not only are they highly trained ex military for mexico but it said they have so much money they will never run out ,an its funny cuz they (Zetas)are not giving up either. An it shows
This is where the Drug War has brought us: to the point where thousands upon thousands of violent deaths per year are seen as a “signpost of success”. Paul, you used the only applicable word early in your interview with Judge: “tragedy”.
(By the way, Fox should really give Judge Napolitano his own TV show. He does fantastic work.)
Michele Leonhart is another moron who was only appointed because she’s young and attractive. Beauty always beats brains when it comes to political office.
It’s amazing to me that even on Fox news, an organization known for having conservative views, has been running stories which promote the legalization of cannabis. It seems like legalization has gone from being a “liberal” stance to being a bi-partisan issue for many.
This is a good thing.
It’s unfortunate that our current President laughs at the idea of legalization, when he himself is an admitted former smoker. I hope that soon our representatives and senators will will get the bigger picture of the problems with prohibition.
Isn’t there a way to get all of us together and just say “Hey… here it is… you have this many Americans unpleased with you. You do something about it, or you’ll find a mutiny on your hands…” Heh… not sure if it’ll work, but it’s an idea… and it WOULD get our message across.
“Our view is that the violence we have been seeing is a signpost of the success our very courageous Mexican counterparts are having,” said Michele Leonhart, who was recently nominated by President Obama to be the agency’s full time director. “The cartels are acting out like caged animals, because they are caged animals.”
Well, if the DEA’s chief talking head thought that some 6,300 drug cartel-related murders in 2008 was an indication of progress, one can only imagine that she believes that this weekend’s south-of-the-border killing spree — which included the murder of a pregnant U.S. official and members of her family — must be downright victorious.
To rest of us, however, these acts are nothing short of a senseless tragedy — a tragedy made all that much more heart-wrenching because it is U.S. policy & stores like Wal – Mart that is helping to fuel this violence.
Thank you NORML for putting timestamps on these messages. Otherwise I would of never known.
Happy 4:20 to NORML and ALL of it’s supporters.
Napolitano was still against legalization to give the government better control over supplying the demand in it’s own country. News of the NY ad needs to go viral in the Internet and mainstream broadcast media. The escalation of violence just across the border in Mexico is the true measure of success of cannabis prohibition, not annual surveys and not drug tests at the time of arrest. People lie on surveys left and right because someone might be able to mark the papers or get fingerprints. They can use an iodine process to get the fingerprints off the paper to find out who filled out the survey. Handwriting can be identified, and cards are marked for the cheater to identify.
I’m telling you prohibitionists now to wake up and smell the coffee. Do you know where continued cannabis prohibition can lead? There is such a thing as peak oil, and by the same token there is such a thing as peak prohibition as measured by monetary cost and deaths.
U.S. citizens have become death statistics on the Mexican side. When the spillover onto the U.S. side gets worse, it will be just one more splash over. The latest splashes indicate how much more powerful the Mexican cartels have become recently. There will be enormous outrage when we pass the peak cannabis prohibition line, and the Feds have to negotiate with Mexican cartel bosses for the release of kidnap victims and to negotiate ceasefire. The border is that line of sand that just can’t get crossed.
The American people won’t put up with it.
Americans will be screaming bloody murder. Ness would never have negotiated with Capone! Feds don’t do that. Nobody wants a clone of the FARQ on our southern border.
Now I’m telling nicely to wake up and smell the coffee.
When it gets worse, I’ll be saying
Wake the fuck up! Full legalization
Wow..I’m just speechless. How can someone think that more violence equals success? What is she smoking?
what, prohibition makes little criminals into blood thirsty gang land killers,Damn straight,they kill for the money not the drug. Just like Capone..please let logic prevail and legalize
what is the possibility that Obama is pushing this to a 2nd term issue?
Its too risky for him to even whisper legalize it now.
Any update on that Ron Paul and Barny Frank 100g bill?
Here’s my response to a senseless email i received from Wal-Mart today and the letter i received from them today . Whose the real & only DRUG PUSHER here ?
Your prescription medications that YOU SELL , PUSH & AVOCATE often cause death , serious side effects and sometimes irreversible harm to the human body . You profit from these drugs . Marijuana causes neither death , side effects or irreversible harm to the human body . It’s time that Wal – Mart reverse its practices because it makes no sense . Wal – Mart is also encouraging deaths and destruction over the border with these senseless policies .
My name was attached here .
Realestate developer , State Licensed building Contractor , Mortgage Broker and Actor .
Here’s what they sent me ;
From: “Walmart Customer Service”
To:
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 2:53 PM
Subject: Response from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Ref #000000024891846)
Thank you for your message.
Dear Valued Customer,
Thank you for your recent inquiry. In states, such as Michigan, where prescriptions for marijuana can be obtained, an employer can still enforce a policy that requires termination of employment following a positive drug screen.
We believe our policy complies with the law and we support decisions based on the policy.
Sincerely,
Walmart Customer Care
The only policy that will truly put the “caged animal” back in its cage is full out legalization.
No matter what the government says or does I will never stop smoking. If it was a hanging offense I would still light up. What does that say? Were here and were here to stay. Nothing will change that simple fact ind it’s amazing that the government seems to not understand.
Mexico now is worse than Chicago in the 20’s. Corrupt government, gangsters and gang wars. Alcohol prohibition didn’t work then, and drug prohibition is not working now.
If Leonhart’s idea of success is more violence, it’s my guess that her idea of victory in the drug war is armageddon or everyone dead.
I still do a double take when I see the Judge on Fox endorse reform. I think the Judge sneaks Paul on when his bosses aren’t looking.
The burden of guilt for this violence needs to go where it belongs, on our goverment and it”s failed policy of the last 70 years. Just think of the life”s and money that could have been saved. Think of how many times drug law reforms have been called for.What a waste.
Paul I’m so surprised that you were given that much air time on a major network. Fox and the judge are doing a great service by letting you have the time to explain the correct way to deal with cannabis. The Judge makes a very valid point when he talks about a persons sovereignty over our own body. What gives the government the right to tell us what we can consume? Can they also tell us what we can consume when it comes to nutrition? Can they ban us from other self pleasures? Where does their boundary end and ours begin? Thanks for getting the word out. Great interview.
Its a shame when the U.S. cant even change its opinion on cannabis. even through deaths, riots, songs. How many more people need to die before the US changes its laws? too many have already suffered. but who’s next, me? my mom? my family? or even yours.
Our Government is worse than the kool aid cults of mass suicide…
Eating fast food McDonalds daily is worse than smoking pot daily…
the preservatives in our food are more damaging than the worst effects of cannabis… especially long term.
How about aspartame!? selectively put in all diet products that our women tend to drink more often than men… are they trying to disfigure babies and dumb the population!?
I hope in in the name of all humanity that we can all band together to fix problems rooted by the constitutional infringement of prohibitions and corporate politics.
They are and have been preparing for our uprise and unless we make some significant changes and connections, they will win and freedom will continue to be an illusion as it has been since the late 1920’s.
I want my constitutional rights back…
– The recent violence in Mexico is a sign of
drug-war ‘success’ in the same way that the
Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago was
an indication of how well keeping America ‘alcohol-free’ was working…
So bloody “victorious”..!!! 🙄
– Those who refuse to learn from past ‘victories’ are destined to repeat them… :p
Actually a pretty good piece for Fox News, but that’s probably because Napolitano is more Libertarian than conservative. Since I don’t believe much of anything from Fox News (or the mainstream media) I can’t help but think a lot of their publicity they are giving to the legalization movement is due to the fact that they see it as a winning issue this coming election. If Republicans start getting on board (because of defense of states rights) I’d even be willing to vote Republican for the first time in my life. Meanwhile the Democrats are really letting us down, mainly John Lynch of New Hampshire. Progressives need to vote these clowns out.
#9 “Napolitano was still against legalization to give the government better control over supplying the demand in it’s own country.”
Then #9 goes to write on that he wants “full legalization.” The reason why the Judge is against legalization TO GIVE the GOVERNMENT better CONTROL is because he is a strict Constitutionalist and does not think federal government has any right to either prohibit marijuana OR CONTROL IT. In other words, the Judge believes in FULL LEGALIZATION as you called for at the end of your post. It should be up to the individual states to tax and regulate it per the 10th amendment of our Constitution.
The Judge is another leading figure of the liberty movement (not to be confused with the neo-con hijacked tea-party faux movement) that is also lead by Ron Paul. It IS IN FACT a viable movement and many people involved are running for both state government and our Congress; many of which are polling for the win right now.
And yes, John Lynch from New Hampshire is the quintessential example of why we need to think outside of the 2-party box. Most democrats are the exact same as most republicans, war mongering status quo establishment politicians who are in bed with each other despite the D or R after their name.
“Our view is that the violence we have been seeing is a signpost of the success our very courageous Mexican counterparts are having,”
one can only imagine that she believes that this weekend’s south-of-the-border killing spree — which included the murder of a pregnant U.S. official and members of her family — must be downright victorious.
So what will she and the rest of the DEA recognize as full succes? Thousands and thousanbds of American deaths on this side of the border. These morons must think all of us have drank enough flouride to believe this shit. Our government officials are the ENABLERS of this violence by continuing to support the very law that makes these cartels rich and very powerful. The DEA makes themselves look worse and worse with every passing day, every passing breath, Americans are finnally seeing the truth of the situation.
What happened back in the days of Al Capone, when the violence was at its peak? Prohibition ENDED! Hello DEA …Keep talking , you helping our cause thank you.
Can anyone tell me Obama responded to the change.org question of legalization?
If they legalized it, how would the government support it’s policies of controlling minority groups, protect it’s prison industry, protect it’s Big Pharma lobbyists, protect it’s cancer industry, etc. Most importantly, how would our government be able to continue the final destruction of our civil liberties? Yep, the government is winning the drug war, it’s just not the battle you think it is. And no, Obama is not going to legalize it for his second term. On all of the important issues he is the same as Bush. The office of the president doesn’t matter in a corporate theocracy.
(Sign Of Success) Is she not payin attention? Someone help her pull her head outta her ass.The blind B**ch
anyone that thinks people in the government gives a rat’s ass about the sanctity of human life is smoking better stuff than me They know the truth but it’s against their plans Any thing made from oi coal gas can be made from hemp Cannibis proven to be safe and beneficial relieves suffering Hemp laws are the foundation of their control of the economy Treason against the republic That is what they are afraid you will reallise Let the war crimes trials begin :bongin:
I was playing poker in Atlantic City the other night and started a thought provoking converstaion about our pot laws and BIG PHARMA’s control of the drug industry and crooked cops. It was an eye opener for many at the table, and nothing new new to those of us already in the know. I recommend you all do the same. As my mother used to say: “You have a mouth. USE IT!!!”
“The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy … says that more than 60 percent of the profits reaped by Mexican drug lords are derived from the exportation and sale of cannabis to the American market. … (By comparison, only about 28 percent of their profits are derived from the distribution of cocaine, and less than 1 percent comes from trafficking methamphetamine.”
Some important observations are to be made here.
First, notice that the emphasis of the report is on “profits” and the profits on marijuana are very high. But this is only because marijuana requires very little processing to be moved into the the black market. Basically, you grow it, pick it dry it and move it.
But cocaine is a little trickier. You grow it and you pick it, but you still have to chemically process it into cocaine before you move it. This requires skilled labor, facilities and equipment and secure locations. The process is pretty much the same with heroine.
And of course meth is even more involved. You can’t grow it, so you have to have industrial sources for the raw ingredients. This is expensive and requires a lot of social resources that are also expensive. And once you get all that you are back to basic problem that you have with cocaine, requiring skilled labor, facilities and equipment and secure locations.
This all suggests a missing strategy in the Drug War which currently starts with prosecuting users. Instead of doing that, leave users completely alone and target instead the most vulnerable part of drug trafficking which is those parts requiring skilled labor, facilities and equipment and secure locations. Growing and picking any of the drug yielding plants like opium, coca and cannabis should also be completely ignored.
Of course we can conceivably allow the legal distribution of cannabis because this opens up the traditional distribution of the non-drug parts of the plant. But also, we could stand allowing the distribution of coca leaf and continue severely criminalizing the processing of coca into cocaine or any other extracts of the leaf that renders consumption more dangerous. Opium is a historical hazard, even when restricted to the simple resin collected from the seed pods. But still, personal collection from plants personally grown should be legal. Again, processing this resin into any crystaline extract should continue to be severely criminalized.
Basically, processing into crystaline form any drug and distributing it should be severely criminalized, with crippling fines, at least, and eventually jail time. This would have the best strategy is sucking the life out of organized crime where it prospers from drug trafficking. The plants that yield the drugs should be allowed to be grown freely as long as distribution is either regulated or criminalized as in the case of opium.
the violence issue is the quickest way to legalization anyone with half a brain can see the implications of prohibition and how it causes more violence and real crime (b/c drug use is not crime, its a personal choice)
I agree with Fragacide. The current situation will not change until politicians start losing their jobs because of their continued support of prohibition.
We need to start making an issue of candidates’ positions on prohibition, and encouraging voters to boot out those who will not listen.
Mr. Armentano,
Fantastic job on that Fox segment! You laid out our argument very effectively and in a way everyday people will be able to understand. Thank you for your hard work.
Obama in his 2nd-term is our best chance for any decrim or legalization from the federal side. No 1st-term Republican/independent is going to push for it, that is for sure. With the media branding Obama as a socialist he is doing what he can to stay centrist for the independent votes. Which means not touching the marijuana issue in his first term, and I have to agree health-care and finicial reforms are more important to the majority of American voters at the moment. That being said in his 2nd term after his re-election he will have no political capital to loose. Keep going at the State level in the meantime. At least, one state, Cali, Washington, Massachusetts, or Oregon will legalize it this year in my opinion. Obama is smart, he wants to get re-elected.
It looks like we might be on the same side as conservatives right now– but any sort of legitimacy they give our cause is all in the name of political posturing.
They will talk about the constitution, freedom, how prohibition is bad and doesn’t work etc– and the MINUTE they get power back they will turn the whole thing back into “well– we need to fight it for the kids… and Jesus… and anything with guns is good (police, soldiers etc)”
My point is: they’re saying the right things, but are completely insincere about doing anything about it.
I’ll even help….lmfao
to #10 daniel
itsnot what they’re smokin…..its what prescription they’re takin..heh .i bid you all peace from the ganga pipe….hit it for me.
saw Glenn Beck say legalize,shocked, but then agine fox has John Stossle
Legalization is right around the corner! A billboard in times square is a huge accomplishment!
I can’t but think that one day soon, the US prohibition response to all this violence in Mexico is to crack down on US cannabis consumers. Could they make it any scarier than the 1980 and 1990s? With technology and Patriot they sure can, especially at a time the government needs money!!!
I really feel that this ‘Drug War’ is now at a crucial juncture. It is at a point that it could go either way. That is why it is important, now more than ever, for cannabis consumers and patients become active in reform. I think we are seeing this with Internet popularity of legal marijuana. But we need more consumers to register as patients if they qualify or get involved with groups like NORML. It is important to stand up for the right to consume consume cannabis, otherwise the worst may not be over….
C’mon guys just think about this. If we legalize marijuana violence in mexico and near the border will go down. This would mean that we’re failing!
Folks I really am not trying to turn this into a political thread however since the whole problem of the prohibition of pot is a political wrangling it may be quite appropriate to steer it in that direction. First to Paul. I was very impressed with the clarity of your understanding of the problems and the proper manner with which to deal with it. The only issue I have with your analysis is the fact that for the most part you pretty much ignored the political issues at the root of the problem. But I can understand leaving those issues untouched as it would have created an extensive post. All I can say about that issue is follow the money. To ALEX: While you did address the political issue to a minor degree you show absolutely no understanding of the true issues. However that is not what bothers me most about your post. OBAMA IN HIS SECOND TERM statement bothers me a lot. Here we are talking about a man that is not qualified in any manner to be the president of our country. I believe that the possibility of him completing his first term as a near impossibility. The people are waking up to what his agenda truly is and legalization of pot is the last thing on his mind. He is here strictly to finish destroying our country and is so far doing a very fine job of it. At the rate he is defiling our constitution if it is allowed to go on unchecked for the full four years we won’t have to worry about him being elected for a second term because there will no longer be any elections. Wake the hell up stop worrying so much about the right to roll a joint and start worrying a little more about your right to live freely in any manner.
I cannot believe she thinks the war on drugs is actually working. This is a huge cash crop for mexico and they are killing each other to become the number one supplier. I can imagine Michele Leonhart is an educated woman but has the common sense of a turnip. The killing will never stop until it is legalized in the US. If you are american and go to mexico and end up in the wrong area you can guarantee that you will be killed because they would assume you are a DEA agent. I look like a cop but I am not so I am going no were near any place in Mexico. The american government REALLY needs to wake up and look at this issue the war on drugs has NEVER been successful and people who want to use cannabis are using it and this just fuels the violence in mexico. I don’t condemn the people who use it just our government for making them buy it from a market that is fueled by violence.
Congratulations!
Your article is now the #1 read, emailed, and commented upon on ‘The Hill”
Action required today!!!!
Is America ready to legalize marijuana?
In California, marijuana stores legally exist to sell different varieties of pot to customers that need the drug for medical purposes. One shop, for example, pays the state some $300,000 in taxes and the federal government $500,000 in taxes. One problem: DEA could shut them down and arrest the people working and selling in the store. State and Federal laws are contradictory.
Is America ready to legalize pot, regulate it, tax it, control it the same way that alcohol is controlled by the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms or by the FDA? Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron and David Evans of the Drug Free America Foundation debated the benefits of America of legalizing marijuana for recreational as well as medical use on msnbc Monday.
Msnbc’s David Shuster looks at whether or not America is ready… in a series of reports this week at 3 p.m. ET on msnbc.
http://msnbc.newsvine.com/_question/2010/03/15/4021020-is-america-ready-to-legalize-marijuana-
Cannabis legalization is going to happen on a state by state basis, just as Obama has said basically needs to happen. It is going to be up to us, the people, to make this occur. When the majority of States have legal marijuana in place (even just medical) then the Federal Govt. will basically have no choice but to follow or be left behind. God Bless America. Smoke pot!
To Vietvet– and what exactly is your definition of “live freely in any manner”?
How do you define freedom? Because the easiest way to know what freedom is is to know when you *aren’t* free. And that is something us pot smokers know all too well.
And as bad as anything Obama might do, Bush was a THOUSAND times worse.