U.S. Embassy In Guatemala Criticizes Proposal To Legalize Drugs

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.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[Paul Paul]

10:11 PM on 03/12/2012

A Noble Peace prize for Perez and the leaders who end the drug war.

[AmStardust]

11:59 AM on 02/15/2012

Great idea... take away the power of the awful gangs

[mudfoot108]

05:11 PM on 02/13/2012

The "War on Drugs" industry lines the pockets of far too many connected individuals and LE agencies to ever be ended. We're talking billions of (our ) dollars. This fact, combined with America's ridiculously closed-minded approach to drugs ensure that the industry will continue to thrive, and these people pocketing the profits can claim moral high-ground while they do it. It's a blatant waste of resources; it's based upon incredibly archaic thinking; it's just plain stupid!... but considering the size of the industry it's here to stay

[chapin100k]

04:51 PM on 02/13/2012

that's the way to go. I support 100% this decision from the Guatemalan President. It's a lost war. Better get taxes from that commerce, than spend money. Let's be real, drugs are here to stay. the sooner the better. El Chapin

[Konnie]

04:33 PM on 02/13/2012

PROHIBITION is the root cause of the problem.

[mt man]

04:28 PM on 02/13/2012

I remember the sixties so I guess that means I wasn't using drugs other than lots of alcohol. the 70's were blurry the 80's till present i remember again. I don't remember but I think the 70's were supposed to be a gateway to other drugs. so unless your blood pressure medicine and the stuff for high cholesterol can be counted. I don't think it was a gateway to anything. Used pot in the 70"s and stopped using it all by the 80"s. So much for the gateway to the real bad stuff.

[ScaredAcademic]

04:25 PM on 02/13/2012

So why would the weapons trafficking continue if the need for weapons is a function of the underground narcotrafficking? I understand the coyote/human trafficking angle, but that is logically independent of the drugs and it should reduce the weapons needs, at a minimum.

At what point did the Monroe Doctrine give the US the authority to completely F up the entire hemisphere because the US has some weird morality issues.

[mech126]

04:20 PM on 02/13/2012

We lost the the drug war, so it's time to end it.....

[GG NV]

04:22 PM on 02/13/2012

Sure so we can become a nation of Whitney Houstons.

[mech126]

04:32 PM on 02/13/2012

That wont happen, anyways why do i want to keep spending my tax dollars on a failed war, that we can't win, where's the common sense in that, it's just throwing good money after bad.....

[Gestas]

04:27 PM on 02/13/2012

The "Drug War" isn't the only war we've lost... But it's been a great way to spend money on some things that we need..

[mech126]

04:36 PM on 02/13/2012

And what did the drug war get us, nothing but trillions of tax dollars flushed down the drain.....

[rich3324]

04:17 PM on 02/13/2012

As for pot it was made illegal based on lies and racism.

[paulwl]

03:52 PM on 02/13/2012

And a 'child'( up and coming challenge) shall lead! To think, up and coming' voices' in the war against stupidity, is firing the shot that signals the beginning to the end of OLD WAYS, to a New WAVE of Thinking!

[Dan Lavry]

03:47 PM on 02/13/2012

"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".

Anyone can say anything, but it does not make it fact. Many law enforcement professionals suggest that legalizing pot in the USA would take the action out of the hands of the criminals, thus REDUCE the activity of transnational gangs.

[edwcorey]

03:35 PM on 02/13/2012

All small countries that want to raise revenue without U.S. strings-attached foreign aid should legalize drugs. U.S. agencies are addicted to their confiscatory policies; the corporate prisons are addicted to more and more prisoners; the arms dealers are addicted to selling arms to all sides of the drug wars; and the drug companies are addicted to addicting people to their manufactured chemicals under the guise of "helping" patients. When mind-altering plants are criminalized, all the wrong people benefit.

[olitenup]

03:27 PM on 02/13/2012

Butt out Washington, the DEA dribble is sickening.

Finally, someone is standing up to the DC establishment. Good for Guatemala, in fact... Bravo Guatemala!!!

[fumes]

11:49 PM on 02/13/2012

ohlightup..

puff puff pass!

[dem4theday]

03:27 PM on 02/13/2012

How will american gun builders make up the lost revenue from lower sales to mexican gangbangers? i guess it will have to come out of social security?

[expat50]

03:21 PM on 02/13/2012

Legalize/decriminalize and a huge portion of the problem goes away. The huge sums of money that pay for guns, soldiers and corruption (on both sides of the US border) are cut way down. The cartels will still deal in counterfeit goods, still run extortion, gambling and prostitution. In other words, they will become like organized crime in the US. (Who, by the way, will lose revenue with legalization as well.) Most importantly, the narco on narco wars will stop, taxpayers will not longer pay for the bloated DEA or private prisons, we will have money available for treatment and education and maybe, just maybe some of our constitutional rights will be restored. Of course, we can continue doing what we have been doing for the last 30 years with very little effect but that we all know is the very definition of insanity.