Mexico Joins Citizens of 80 Cities Worldwide to Protest the War on Drugs Marya Pasciuto - World Policy Institute
go to original June 26, 2014

Support. Do Not Punish, Mexico

For decades, government policies against drugs have created problematic situations in virtually every corner of the world, from cartel warfare to rampant incarceration. For many citizens and advocacy organizations, the war on drugs has created more problems than solutions.

... Aram Barra, Drug Policy Program director at Espolea, illustrated Mexico City’s situation with the war on drugs. Their protest’s overarching goal is to educate and unite the public when it comes to Mexico’s inadequate drug policy - over 30 different Mexican organizations created a microsite focusing on reasons the nation’s drug policy must change.

According to Barra, “The launch of the microsite includes video-capsules recorded especially for the campaign with representations from public figures of politics, private enterprises, social leaders and people from the entertainment world in Mexico,” and it will be projected publicly on June 26.

Of course, Mexico is intimately connected to the war on drugs. Barra shares some shocking statistics: over 60,000 deaths and 20,000 disappearances were reported from 2006-2012. Many of these deaths and disappearances can likely be attributed to cartel activity and other drug-affiliated issues. More recent figures show that Mexico “reports 1.8 percent of the population used drugs in the last year, yet sees an average of 15,000 deaths because of its drug policy,” indicating that the war on drugs has only exacerbated Mexico’s drug-related suffering.

Mexico is, however, seeking change: former president Felipe Calderon joined other nations in the region in calling upon the United Nations to change the world’s drug policies. There will be a UN special assembly on drugs in New York in 2016, and according to Barra, “It is crucial that Mexico betters its drug policy before then.”

In the meantime, Mexico’s views on drug policy have been slowly evolving; measures include supporting the Group of Latin America (GRULAC) in an effort to change society’s perceptions of drugs and drug users. “While much remains to be done, Mexico is today walking in the right path regarding its foreign policy position on the subject,” says Barra.

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