Hillary Clinton: We Can't Legalize Drugs Because 'There Is Just Too Much Money in It'
Ms. Clinton had another meeting with folks from Mexico recently and was interviewed by a member of Mexican media outlet Televisa and during this she seems to have indicated she grasps what some on this side of the relegalization effort often suspect: "Drugs' are just worth too much money illegal to be allowed to be legal.
No, it doesn't make any sense and yes it does show how little she understands black market dynamics. and sides, ultimately, with supporting the black markets and cartels, whether she thinks so or not..
From this link provided in the Reason link above:
Maerker: In Mexico, there are those who propose not keeping going with this battle and legalize drug trafficking and consumption. What is your opinion?
Clinton: I don't think that will work. I mean, I hear the same debate. I hear it in my country. It is not likely to work. There is just too much money in it, and I don't think that—you can legalize small amounts for possession, but those who are making so much money selling, they have to be stopped.
She's unclear but it seems she means that legalizing small amounts - as Mexico has done (mostly to prevent their ultra-corrupt police from shaking everybody down for bribes) - but is afraid of some people making money.
Jacob Sullem continues:
Clinton evidently does not understand that there is so much money to be made by selling illegal drugs precisely because they are illegal. Prohibition not only enables traffickers to earn a "risk premium" that makes drug prices much higher than they would otherwise be; it delivers this highly lucrative business into the hands of criminals who, having no legal recourse, resolve disputes by spilling blood.
The 35,000 or so prohibition-related deaths that Mexico has seen since President Felipe Calderon began a crackdown on drugs in 2006 are one consequence of the volatile situation created by the government's arbitrary dictates regarding psychoactive substances. Pace Clinton, the way to "stop" the violent thugs who profit from prohibition is not to mindlessly maintain the policy that enriches them.
Lest I seem like a lone voice complaining that Hillary is defending the status quo, check out the BBC:
Hillary Clinton backs Mexico drug war
Mrs Clinton said there was "no alternative" to confronting the cartels, despite rising violence that left more than 15,000 dead last year.
She said the US recognised the need to stop the flow of money and guns from the US to the cartels.
*****
Mrs Clinton said Mexico's policy of fighting the drugs gangs was "absolutely necessary," despite the high cost in bloodshed.
"It is messy. It causes lots of terrible things to be on the news," she said. "The drug traffickers are not going to give up without a fight".
Here we see more detail that Hillary (A) does not have an understanding of black market dynamics (the more you enforce this prohibition, the worse things are going to get)or doesn't care, and (B) maintaining the failed policies of the last 4 decades.
Obama has shored this up with his appointment of Michele M. Leonhar who has also praised the violence as a sign of success, which is the exact opposite of the truth.
The violence in Mexico is not due to "drugs" per se. Drugs don't 'cause' violence - but the massive profits to be had by people able to traffick them IS what the killing is about.
Its about money.
Sending US troops to get involved will simply rachet up the violence as cartels are in this for the cash and they have been capable of holding their own against the Mexican military, more military intervention is simply going to get more people killed.
Regarding her recognition of the "need to stop the flow of money and guns from the US to the cartels" she, like she is supposed to do, totally won't discuss the legalization of cannabis here.
All drug war reporting in the American mainstream media amounts to propaganda. Marijuana is the most widely used and popular drug. But anytime the issue arises we see 'marijuana' mentioned once or twice and then "drugs" the rest of the time., This is to conflate marijuana with dangerous drugs. Not to say marijuana is safe, of course, but water kills more people and does more damage than marijuana. It's a fact, not that facts matter.
The cartels make over half their income off cannabis - marijuana. They grow it, have little invested in it and get a good return.
If marijuana was legal in the USA, as it should and eventually will be, the Cartels are down over 55% of their income, almost overnight. America is already self-sufficient with marijuana production, the cartels products add nothing to the market and are generally quite inferior to what can be grown here.
Want to stop MONEY from flowing out of the proper economy? Want to stop moneyt from going to another country? Want to kick violent drug-dealing cartels in the balls?
Relegalize cannabis in America.
Or don't and watch the bodies pile up.