Guatemala leader to propose legalizing drugs

[Judi Lynn]

Guatemala leader to propose legalizing drugs
Feb. 11, 2012 02:56 PM
Associated Press

GUATEMALA CITY -- Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina said Saturday he will propose legalizing drugs in Central America in an upcoming meeting with the region's leaders.

Perez Molina said in a radio interview that his proposal would include decriminalizing the transportation of drugs through the area.

"I want to bring this discussion to the table," he said. "It wouldn't be a crime to transport, to move drugs. It would all have to be regulated."

~snip~
"There was talk of the success of Plan Colombia but all it did was neutralize big cartels," Perez Molina said of a U.S. initiative supporting Colombia's fight against leftist rebels and far-right militias involved in the drug trade.

More:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/02/11/20120211guatemala-leader-propose-legalizing-drugs.html#ixzz1m7DRDHrR

[Judi Lynn]

1. US Embassy in Guatemala criticizes president’s proposal to legalize drugs

US Embassy in Guatemala criticizes president’s proposal to legalize drugs
By Associated Press, Updated: Sunday, February 12, 8:31 PM

GUATEMALA CITY — The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala is criticizing President Otto Perez Molina’s proposal to legalize drugs in Central America.

The embassy says Washington opposes such measures because “the evidence shows our shared drug problem is a threat to public health and safety.”

An embassy statement on Sunday said that legalizing drugs wouldn’t stop transnational gangs that not only traffic drugs but also people and weapons, as well as extorting and kidnapping people.

Perez Molina on Saturday said he will propose legalizing drugs in Central America in an upcoming meeting with the region’s leaders. He gave no other details about his proposal.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/us-embassy-in-guatemala-criticizes-presidents-proposal-to-legalize-drugs/2012/02/12/gIQAToif9Q_story.html

[Judi Lynn]

2. Legalizing drugs gains ground in Latin America (Opinion)

Legalizing drugs gains ground in Latin America
Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina has suggested decriminalizing drugs in order to reduce violence in the Americas.
By Mike Allison, Guest blogger / February 13, 2012

Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina has repeated his suggestion that Guatemala and the other nations of Central America should consider decriminalizing drugs in order to help reduce violence.

The Guatemalan president said he will propose legalizing drugs in Central America in an upcoming meeting with the region's leaders. President Perez Molina said in a radio interview that legalization would include decriminalizing the transportation of drugs through the area. The Guatemalan president said the war on drugs, and all the money and technology received from the US, has not diminished drug trafficking in the area. While the details would have to be worked out, he would also consider setting up legal mechanisms to sell drugs (link in Spanish).

Some effort at decriminalization would be beneficial both to the people of Central America and the United States. On the other hand, I'm not convinced that the US government and regional governments could design some sort of effective policy. They would include too many loopholes and restrictions that would still make it highly profitable to operate on the black market.

It's also interesting that it is the Colombian and Guatemalan presidents who are suggesting this policy change. They are the leaders of two countries that have recently succeeded in reducing violence, at least when measured in terms of their murder rates.

More:
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/Latin-America-Monitor/2012/0213/Legalizing-drugs-gains-ground-in-Latin-America

[Judi Lynn]

3. Guatemalan leader: the only way to beat gangs is to legalise drugs

Guatemalan leader: the only way to beat gangs is to legalise drugs
The US's failure to cut demand for narcotics leaves Central America no choice, says President
Guy Adams
Thursday 16 February 2012

The President of Guatemala has floated the prospect of legalising drugs in a bid to stop criminal gangs bringing even more bloodshed to Central America, and will attempt to win regional support for an idea which is likely to face fierce opposition in Washington.

Otto Perez Molina used a meeting with Mauricio Funes, his counterpart from neighbouring El Salvador, to discuss the concept earlier this week. He described it as the only way to respond to America's failure to cut the demand for illicit drugs from consumers. Mr Molina intends to seek support for legalising drugs from other Central American leaders at a summit next month. "We're bringing the issue up for debate," he announced to reporters in Guatemala City. "If drug consumption isn't reduced, the problem will continue."

The decision to explore legalisation comes amid soaring crime rates in the country, which is regarded as prime real estate by Mexican drug cartels competing to shift cocaine from South America, where it is grown, to the US, where most of it is consumed.

Since current policies don't appear to be stemming that flow, Guatemala needs "to find alternate ways of fighting drug trafficking," Mr Molina says. "In the last 30 years with a traditional combat with arms and deaths, it can't be done and we have to be open to viable alternatives." The President remains vague on exactly how legalisation will work in practice. His best stab at outlining the nuts and bolts of the policy came in a radio interview, in which he said: "It wouldn't be a crime to transport, to move drugs. It would all have to be regulated."

More:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/guatemalan-leader-the-only-way-to-beat-gangs-is-to-legalise-drugs-6950300.html