How Many Mexican Drug War Deaths Can We Attribute to U.S. Pot Laws?

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Paul Armentano

How Many Mexican Drug War Deaths Can We Attribute to U.S. Pot Laws?
It's time to remove the production and distribution of marijuana out of the hands of violent criminal enterprises and into the hands of licensed businesses.

March 18, 2010 |


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. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/drugs/146090/how_many_mexican_drug_war_deaths_can_we_attribute_to_u.s._pot_laws

[Fumesucker]

1. Clearly, when everyone is dead we will have won!!1!!1!!

These people can't possibly be as stupid as they sound, which leaves deliberate misinformation (lying) as the only substantive alternative.

[ixion]

2. spot on, on all counts

n/t

[Joanne98]

3. The minute you legalize pot you tombstone 40% of the business.

But they'll never do it because it makes too much sense.

[glitch]

4. Never happen - as long as banks launder drug cartel money and private prisons are run for profit.

Their lobbyists and campaign contributions will see to that.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, marmar.