MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Uruguay begins to discuss ‘marihuana bill’ that makes government pot dealer
A plan by Uruguayan president Jose Mujica to turn the government into the nation's marijuana dealer has been presented to Congress. The aim of the proposed bill is to take over an illegal marijuana trafficking business estimated to be worth 30 to 40 million dollars annually. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesWell done Uruguay. The dgug war was lost long ago. And every victory against it was in fact a defeat that just pushed prices higher and sucked in more people. All goverments should control and tax drugs in order really kill off the drug barons. Imagine for a second if prohibition still existed. We would have alcohol mafias everywhere as well. But we don't because people came to their senses and realised they had lost.
Aug 10th, 2012 - 12:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well said, Windy.
Aug 10th, 2012 - 12:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Many, no, most commenters on this site, do not appreciate the pragmatism and Grandfatherly wisdom of Mujica. The world would be a far better place if there were more Pepes in charge.
Now I'll watch as the truly ignorant and stupid comments pile on.
Pot sure whynot all drugs are you serious?
Aug 10th, 2012 - 01:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Legalisation of drugs will not eradicate the mafia-style criminals. They don't just deal in drugs but in every market they can make money. It might clear the prisons of a few druggies but that is about it.
Aug 10th, 2012 - 01:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Pot should be legal
Aug 10th, 2012 - 02:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@1 and 2
Aug 10th, 2012 - 02:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I completely agree. Well done Mujica for having the vision to propose a long overdue radical change in tactics. I hope he gets it through.
Elaine,
You might be right, but we just don’t know. No amount of policing has worked thus far, why not try something radical? I think it has a high chance of success and if it fails, well it will be just another failed drug policy. Nothing to lose and everything to win.
@1,2,5,6 Experience in the Netherlands shows that this type of action is “mistaken”. Permit “soft” drugs and you open the door to “hard” drugs. Go for it, Uruguay. Watch your citizens stopped, tested, x-rayed, treated as potential criminals, all around the world. Comments such as “Pot should be legal” only come from junkies with their 10% “minds” intent on psychosis.
Aug 10th, 2012 - 02:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Anyone noticed that Mujica is a farmer? And how long has this “farmer” been producing “weed” and selling it to support his political aspirations? Or is he demonstrating his senility? Here''s a thought for Uruguay and Pepe the Senile. How many nations will ban the entry of Uruguayan nationals to their countries? Go for this and then stay inside your borders. You will not be tolerated!
Whether drugs should be legalised or not was not really my point. The point is that it will not eradicate criminal gangs, they will move on to whatever product they can make money. Organised crime make a mint out of counterfeit products, for instance.
Aug 10th, 2012 - 03:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If drugs are legalised, they are not going to be free so they still have to be paid for. Crime committed to support a drug habit accounts for more of the prison population in the UK than actual possession or dealing. Do you see my point?
Personally, I can understand the debate that weed is no more harmful than alcohol, I just don't see that legalising it will eradicate organised crime or solve the problems related to drug addiction. Just sayin'.
Conqueror (hehe) to say that people who believe pot should be legal are junkies is an absurd assertion substantiated with NOTHING. Your juvenile insults only reflect the baselessness of what you speak. Beer and wine does not lead one to drink scotch or vodka, yet they all affect the body and are legal. Cigarettes does not create cigar smokers, but again harms the body yet legal. I see more drunks, I believe called hooligans at sporting events wreaking havoc.
Aug 10th, 2012 - 03:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I am not SA nor european.....try conquroring you brain before your cerebral farts get the best of you, if the best you can state is an insult.
Article says:
Aug 10th, 2012 - 04:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Uruguay begins to discuss ‘Marijuana Bill’ that makes government pot dealer”
I (and Steppenwolf) say:
”You know the dealer, the dealer is a man…
With the love grass in his hand….”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6TvaItYu_M&feature=related
Vamos Pepe todavía….
Hermano Think, thanks for the Friday classic : )
Aug 10th, 2012 - 05:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Elaine, nothing is going to stop organized crime. 54% of people in US prisons are drug related. We are spending infinite amounts of money with little to no effect on it getting it into this country. I think it's time we take a pragmatic approach to our views and perceptions of marijuana. I do find it a bit humerous that the old, liver dying drunks of politicians view marijuana as dangerous to the health, yet more and more medical professionals are concluding the medicinal benefits of it, as well ass the pleasure. And no I am not a smoker other than cigars.
Aug 10th, 2012 - 06:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If you want my personal opinion, alcohol abuse causes far more damage to society than marijuana, so I don't disagree with you entirely.
Aug 10th, 2012 - 06:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I am not from the USA but do think there are some obsessively over-reactive laws regarding drugs in some states. For instance some states regard dealing in dope to be on a par with cocaine, which just means the dealers have moved on to the move profitable drug which carries the same risk. Then there are the disparities in sentencing; cocaine (the white man's drug) carries lesser prison sentencing than crack cocaine (the black man's drug).
You could also argue that tobacco is the most addictive drug and causes more deaths (though not more crime) but the tax revenues and strong tobacco lobby means it will never be classed as illegal.
The only caveat I would add to more relaxed laws on marijuana is a minimum age limit of 25. Why? Because about one third of male (in particular) are susceptible to psychological disorders if they take marijuana whilst their brains are still developing. This is a medical fact. And there should be controls on the strength, as there is in the Netherlands. And the same drug/driving laws as for alcohol should apply.
Relaxing the law wouldn't affect me personally but I wouldn't want to see the prison to be less crowded but the psychiatric wards full to bursting.
I agree with you totally. And the laws are very different from state to state, being the nature of my country. In Masschusetts, marijuana has been decriminalized for under posseiion of 1 ounce if you are over 21. But other states you can still drawn a 5 year prison sentence for one smoke.
Aug 10th, 2012 - 06:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Uruguay is a great place to live but in the last 15 months I have noticed, in the government psyche, a real lack of interest in enforcement of the laws they have enacted.
Aug 10th, 2012 - 07:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0For example, the Manual de Direction (the Driving Manual) is based on the USA version of how to drive safely. We can all debate the merits of that but you have to admit that Americans do attempt to enforce the law. In Uruguay, to obtain a Uruguayo Driving Licence involves taking a computerised test in Espanol, no translators allowed, no English speaking Intendencia (Council) operators available but this is 'cast in stone'. When I pointed out several glaring omissions to the vehicle condition requirement and very poor driving to the Intendencia official he told me that, yes of course we know this, but you must accept that the manual is aspirational as well as the law!
I just wonder if Pepe's vision really does run to ensuring that all the other drugs are policed effectively and if so, why wasn't it done before?
He has really shot down his own argument in that 'the war is lost' against drugs, so what is going to be different with the new, relaxed law?
With regard to more checks on 'drug addicted Uruguayos' in the arrival halls of other countries, that is already the case in the UK due to the well known fact that our southern, friendly, country sends their couriers via MVD in an attempt to confuse the checks. It is the same with Jamaica for the same reasons.
anybody who believes governments taking over as state drug dealers will stop barons and street dealers are kidding themselves all they will do is undercut the govt and push with other serious crimes where most governments cannot venture kidnap/armed robbery/extortion to make up for the loss of profit. leaving that government with a 5hit load more serious crime and a warehouse of expensive weed for their own personal use :) , and they will need it.
Aug 11th, 2012 - 12:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0It is not in some south americas interest to deter drug trafficing totally, serious drug money from the west alone filters its way into their economies without that money they would have a serious problem.
just one bust equaled US$350m street value.
Anybody who experienced life in the USA in the 1950's with the great number of bothersome or derelict alcoholics, finds that those who use the all the new stuff are much more civilized. But against drug dealers - adopt the methods of the Asiatics : Malasia, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Singapore - a trench and a shot in the back of the neck...
Aug 11th, 2012 - 05:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0Sensimillia! Yeah, drugs baby! Ud need a smoke having to live with the likes of KFC breathing down ure neck everyday
Aug 11th, 2012 - 06:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0@9 An interesting comment from someone who has selected a “name” like yours. As it happens, I spent many years on the “front line” of drug enforcement and have spoken to many individuals who have engaged in trafficking or using narcotics, or both. All my years of experience indicate that the use of so-called “soft” drugs leads, in a very high percentage of cases, to the use of “hard” drugs and crime. The latter usually being necessitated by the former. The progression is usually: use of “soft” drug; persuasion or decision to use “hard” drug either by a “friend” or in search for “new experience”; crime to support “habit”. As the “habit” becomes more habitual, greater crime is accepted as the only means of acquiring sufficient funds. An off-shoot of this process is the “criminal” whose “habit” consists of the money and eventually b ecomes prepared to go to any lengths to get it. Instances have included children being kidnapped to “persuade” a parent to take part in drugs trading. Quite often, in some parts of the world, neither parent nor child survive the experience. There have also been instances of the bodies of drug “mules” being found alongside lonely roads with their bellies cut open because they were taking too long to “produce” the goods they had carried internally. Many of these things don't make the newspapers, but I was on hand to see no less than three drug couriers die because of what they had inside them. They literally dropped dead and could not be saved. As a matter of interest, are there any other illegal activities you'd like to see “legalised” because, despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies, people keep on doing them? And as for other effects? Early on I had to watch a film of an autopsy on a 25 year old addict. She looked more like 70! So much for beneficial effects. As a result, I am more than happy to have put so many people behind bars for this activity!
Aug 11th, 2012 - 09:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0One day the Falklands could go to pot......Legislative Assembly is empowered to pass legislation for the peace, order and good government of the Falkland Islands so Gilbert house residents would become the new Drugs Barons and the decision making process would probably improve. Imagine what Mr Summers would look like with a big '4 skins' Reefer sticking out from that distinctive moustache....Mrs Cheek would look very cool in a Jamaican Rasta beanie hat :-)
Aug 11th, 2012 - 09:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0The Uraguayan government selling 'pot' is very much like certain African countries selling off (rather than burning) elephant tusks taken off ivory poachers.
Aug 11th, 2012 - 10:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0It hasn't stopped the killing of the elephants and I doubt if the Uraguayan government will reduce the transfer and use of drugs by this process.
Perhaps the solution for the IUCN Red List is for countries to legalise the farming of elephants for tusks, the farming of bears for gall bladders, the farming of snakes and puffer fish for venom, etc.
Massively increase the supply - like Colombian coca/cocaine, Afgan opium/heroin - and we can bring the prices down for the 'man in the street'. And nobody gets hurt. Sorted!
;-)
........................
The drugs are just the commodity of choice for making money. The objective is the money its maintenance of inflow, and transfer into the regular money-markets.
Drugs have the advantage of addiction, but you can get addicted to all sorts of things - hence the mafia's creation of Las Vegas.
'Legalising' reduces profit to the bosses and the gangs; they will sequentially transfer their energies to the 'next most profitable' enterprises. The normal principals of profit and risk apply.
'Society' defines social acceptability and social unacceptability, and drug sales/usage are usually unacceptable - not least because of the costs - dislocations and bad knock-on effects throughout societies structures.
Human nature will always attempt to maximise personal 'wealth'; society tries to balance this with minimising social cost.
The dynamic is not always bad ... it also allows 'culture' to develop and thrive. But personal wealth through induced chemical drug addictions - 'drugs', tobacco and alcohol - is not the way to bring culture to the human condition.
Conqueror
Aug 11th, 2012 - 11:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0Interesting post, but in my experience, when drug users and the associated criminals were using the parking lot of one of my businesses in Stoke-on-Trent, the local police would do nothing because of the 'shelter' just down the street where these bastards lodged.
SO, what would you do about it? Whatever the police have been doing in the metropolitan areas to curb the problem (note I didn't say erradicate it), it clearly has not worked.
Can any action by enforcemenr authorities ever work?
(20) Viscount Falkland
Aug 11th, 2012 - 11:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0YEAHHH..........................
Fill all Malvinas poly-tunnels with ganja, not gherkins...
All Falkland lads would then be as fit as those Jamaican lads…
And all Falkland lassies would be as slim as Forrest Gump's Jenny…
And then............................., peace would finally get a chance..... ;-)
#19
Aug 11th, 2012 - 01:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Your implication of my name is just another moronic statement you asshole. That's what my grandson calls me. Stick your head further up your ass and keep it there. I smoked tons of pot in my youth and through college....even in the Army. Like millions perhaps billions have in their youth . The experience you speak of is apparently your trafficking days.
@22 Yes it can. The “problem” is “politically-correct” politicians and do-gooders. Since you mention an area of the UK, let me ask some questions. If “enforcement officers” didn't have to bend over backwards to be “fair” to offenders, do you think things might be better? You will know about the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984, but did you know that if enforcement officers make one mistake, the defence can get the whole case thrown out of court? Did you know that certain offences are classed as “low-value”. Offences like criminal damage, burglary, drug-dealing up to £5,000. Did you know that if money is seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the “offender” can demand to have amounts back to fund their defence? In fact, they can use it all up to fund their defence. I even had a legal rep (not a real lawyer) question were an offender was held in custody whilst waiting for internal concealment packages to be ejected! Then there are the do-gooders who always advance the idea that drug users and addicts are “ill”. Much like if you're an argie and shoot yourself in the foot. You're both “ill” and “wounded”. And probably a “war veteran” as well. However did the UK get by in its administration of “justice” before 1984.
Aug 11th, 2012 - 04:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@24 Thanks for confirming that you're a faggot! And who donated the sperm for your “partner” while you were stoned? What's the incidence of genetic abnormality in your brood of drug-spawned, syphilitic bastards? Don't be concerned about your response. Druggies and argies are much the same. “Truth” is just a meaningless sound. You were in an “army”? Should have been shot! I hate druggies. I hate argies. I hate criminals. Bring back capital punishment! And daily floggings for the rest. 50 lashes a day, every day. I do like the idea of someone like you getting a 6-month sentence, including 9,000 lashes with a cat'o'nine tails!
#25
Aug 11th, 2012 - 06:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You really make me laugh.....you can't say anything intelligent so you think your so called insults are damaging. What part of the world do you reside in anyway? Please don't tell me you are a Brit?
You really continually display just how sad and pathetic an idividual soul you are.
Problem is that illegality doesn't stop people from using drugs, on the contrary, it makes it even more interesting to try as young.
Aug 11th, 2012 - 06:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The same as legalization of it wouldn't make more people smoke pot.
Besides, who are you to judge such an initiative , your own war on drugs is a failed project and all you have left is excuses...
We went through a period called the Prohibition when alcohol was illegal. Crime increased exponentially and ultimately it was repealed. I don't suggest that all drugs be legal, nor do I think that the government should deal it, only legalized marijuana, regulate it and tax the shit out of it.
Aug 11th, 2012 - 09:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I don't like drugs and have never taken them and wouldn't even if they were legal, but the “war on drugs” (often an excuse for worse activities in Bolivia, Columbia etc) has failed and perhaps this radical alternative should be given a chance. At least for the relatively harmless weed
Aug 11th, 2012 - 09:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#2 “Many, no, most commenters on this site, do not appreciate the pragmatism and Grandfatherly wisdom of Mujica. The world would be a far better place if there were more Pepes in charge”
I agree, and not just on this issue!
#20 Surely not =)
The scientific case for legalizing marihuana is overwhelmingly positive. It's pretty ridiculous that it is regulated so harshly around the world.
Aug 14th, 2012 - 06:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0As someone from the States looking at what it would mean if Uruguay legalized marihuana, I'm surprised that no one is discussing the tourism potential.
People in the U.S. don't know about Uruguay (for the most part) but, though it may sound superficial, legalizing it would help open up a tourist trade from the States. Beyond that it would generate quite a revenue for Uruguay both domestically and from tourism in general.
I truly wish we'd legalize it in the States. It would solve a lot of economic problems here. Uruguay has the opportunity to be an example to the rest of the world.
Why not lead the way?
Conqueror
Aug 14th, 2012 - 07:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0Studies shows that one can also draw a parallel between the drug abusers and people that breathes, usually they start breathing before they opt for drugs...
Guzz #31
Aug 15th, 2012 - 12:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0There's also a pretty high correlation between drugs of abuse and stopping breathing.
Anyone know where conqurer is from? As an American I would sure hate to think he is British with the sophomoric insults he thinks he hurls. This site should display were posters are from.
Aug 15th, 2012 - 03:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@33
Aug 15th, 2012 - 04:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Conqueror is a Brit.
He is also capable of really intelligent posts, showing great insight. He has also had first hand experience in drug enforcement.
From time to time however, he does go off the deep end. :o)
Yeah well, my nephew was a undercover narc in NYC, it doesn't make him a drug authority. And one must find his intelligent dubious when he refers to someone as a faggot that has an alternate POV, or considers my name Poppy drug related when it's a name for grandpa. Humans like him make a strong case for genetic engineering and abortion.
Aug 15th, 2012 - 06:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 035 Captain Poppy
Aug 15th, 2012 - 07:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I suggest you read your post after the benefit of a long rest.
Your final sentence is not characteristic of you.
Perhasps you are correct, I to get annoyed from a baseless insult. My apologies to all, including conquerer.
Aug 15th, 2012 - 08:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Finally a thread on which I can agree with BK, Think and Guzz.
Aug 15th, 2012 - 09:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Jeez, I should probably review my stance on this issue.
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