US Drug Laws Drive Narco States - "Cocaine Republics"
While waiting in the car at the airport this morning I heard a report on NPR by John Burnett, "Central America's 'Cocaine Republics'" (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4117988) that reminded me of a point (see October 8, 2004 entry) I made about US drug laws supporting a global system of production and distribution that provides 24/7/365 service throughout the US.
Burnett reports that there is so much money flowing through this system that drug traffickers use "throw-away boats and weapons". And further reported that the Columbianization of Guatemala is quickly turning that country into another narco state. The money completely overwhelms the political, police, and judicial systems.
One correction I might make to my earlier comment is that the issue is broader than US drug laws, it is really the entire developed (thats where the money is) world's approach to drug usage.
Clearly, making drugs illegal is and has been totally ineffective at reducing or even controlling their use.
The net results of these laws is to create the environment in which capitalist methods of production and distribution are supported by an artificially high price for the drugs to produce a drug system that is comprehensive in its distribution and sales capabilities.
A second result is the imprisonment and destruction of thousands and thousands of persons for drug use and participation in the drug distribution system.
A third result is the creation of an international drug "enforcement" regime that is now a well-entrenched bureaucracy fed by billions of dollars annually.
A fourth result is the corruption of entire societies, from top to bottom, through the flows of moneys available to the narcotics industry. And, we should not doubt that many US local, state, and national police and drug "enforcement" agencies are also corrupted by this money.
We need to change our whole approach to drug use. The present legal and policy approaches are supporting the drug production and distribution system, while not reducing use.
Burnett reports that there is so much money flowing through this system that drug traffickers use "throw-away boats and weapons". And further reported that the Columbianization of Guatemala is quickly turning that country into another narco state. The money completely overwhelms the political, police, and judicial systems.
One correction I might make to my earlier comment is that the issue is broader than US drug laws, it is really the entire developed (thats where the money is) world's approach to drug usage.
Clearly, making drugs illegal is and has been totally ineffective at reducing or even controlling their use.
The net results of these laws is to create the environment in which capitalist methods of production and distribution are supported by an artificially high price for the drugs to produce a drug system that is comprehensive in its distribution and sales capabilities.
A second result is the imprisonment and destruction of thousands and thousands of persons for drug use and participation in the drug distribution system.
A third result is the creation of an international drug "enforcement" regime that is now a well-entrenched bureaucracy fed by billions of dollars annually.
A fourth result is the corruption of entire societies, from top to bottom, through the flows of moneys available to the narcotics industry. And, we should not doubt that many US local, state, and national police and drug "enforcement" agencies are also corrupted by this money.
We need to change our whole approach to drug use. The present legal and policy approaches are supporting the drug production and distribution system, while not reducing use.
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