Montaño says that the growing number of US states legalizing marijuana could be the driving force for policy change in Mexico.
Mexico has been fighting a violent war on drugs for nearly a decade in an attempt to stop the trafficking of drugs between the US and Mexico, however the legalization of marijuana in many US states now leaves the war on drugs and Mexico’s own policies in question.
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The ambassador said that Mexico would look at all the options and consider the US and their shared 3,000 KM of border when debating the issue, which can come as early as next year at the UNGASS, United Nations Special Assembly Session on Drugs.
President Enrique Peña Nieto has signaled he is open to the debate but is not in favor of legalization, but many lawmakers say they cannot be out of step with US policy on the issue because the issue impacts both countries and a war on drugs to stop the flow into areas where they are legal is becoming a losing battle and costing lives in Mexico.
In 2009, Mexico decriminalized possession of up to 5 grams of marijuana, 500 milligrams of cocaine and small amounts of heroin and methamphetamines.
Legalize! Better for both contries less suffer and deaths
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Such a change makes sense, but it will be a test to see who’s actually in charge in Mexico, the cartels or the federal government. The cartels (not ironically) benefit enormously from the way things are currently. If marijuana is legalized, the cartels’ monopolies and profits will be only a hint of what they are now. I can imagine the cartels being violently opposed to legalization because their business will suffer. Stay tuned …
It makes so much sense for both countries