Not All Believe Mexico is Ready to Legalize Drugs to Combat Drug Trafficking The News
go to original June 17, 2013

Mexico is not prepared for drug legalization, Gov. José Francisco Olvera Ruiz said in Pachuca at the inauguration of TV Azteca’s Live Without Drugs campaign.

The debate on ending drug prohibition has resurfaced following the legalization of marijuana in the U.S. states of Colorado and Washington last November. This move has also sparked calls by Presidents Otto Pérez Molína of Guatemala and Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia to explore legalization as a possible way to reduce the violence arising from drug trafficking.

Former President Vicente Fox has also come out in favor of legalization, arguing that not only could it solve Mexico’s security problems but also adding that once legalized, he would start selling his own brand of marijuana.

Olvera Ruiz said that other countries that have experimented with legalization have populations that are more homogenous and mature and share a similar educational level and are therefore able to resolve the problems that arise from drug use. Mexico, on the other hand, has a more heterogeneous population with different cultural, economic and ideological values, which would make legalization difficult, he said.

“This initiative does not coincide with Latin America’s cultural and economic level which means that legalization is not a good way to combat drug trafficking.”

He added that alcohol is addictive, and though legal, “there’s always someone doctoring it, and if this happens with alcohol, it’ll also happens with drugs.”

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