Uruguay President PresidentMujica has a message
for the U.S. and
Europe - stop
battling drugs as if this were a 'war.'
Uruguay President Tells U.S., Europe: Exclude Military from Drug
Fight (El Mundo, Spain)
“'The current strategy has failed' ... President Mujica is encouraging the U.S. and Europe to explore alternatives similar to those being adopted in Uruguay, which regulates the production and sale of marijuana in order to combat drug trafficking, saying that without efforts by the largest consumer nations of illegal drugs, little progress will be achieved.
'The less contaminated with corruption the
armed forces become, the more secure you will be. The armed forces are like a bulldog
you must be kept safe and secure in the background, but without spoiling it or
giving it too much affection, and hoping never to have to set it loose.'”
Uruguay President Jose Mujica: Known as the poorest head of state in the world, Mujica lives on a ramshackle farm and gives away most of his salary to charity.
Uruguay
President Jose Mujica has issued a statement and
series of recommendations on ways Europe and the United States should approach the
fight against drugs. In fact, he is encouraging them to explore new
alternatives similar to those being adopted in Uruguay, which regulates the
production and sale of marijuana in order to combat drug trafficking.
“These
countries need to change,” said Mujica, in an
interview with the news agency Reuters
at his farm in Montevideo.
Avoid repression and provide greater
resources was the first tip Mujica offered the
world’s largest economies, which, for their part, are the largest consumers of illegal
drugs.
“We
are trying to invent a new way forward, gathering experience as we go. For a
small country, experimenting like this is easy, but thanks to the resources you
have, it is no less possible for a developed country.” In this vein, Muijca noted that the United States has already taken steps
to legalize marijuana in the states of Washington and Colorado.
“If
we look objectively at what's happening in some U.S. states, we can see that
there is some movement in this direction. It is undeniable. It is the industrialized
world that have to change ... and I think Europe has to change as well,” he
said.
"Any
North American state is more important than Uruguay, in dimensions, in its
economic force," he said. "But it's still a bit like a lady
embarrassed to admit her natural sins and lying to herself. What we are doing
is much more open."
The
former guerilla's thoughts are shared by billionaire George Soros; who has openly
criticized the U.S. and the counter-narcotics policy of the U.N. “It has failed,”
he said, referring to the scheme pioneered by the United States. Soros and Mujica are “allies” to the point that Uruguay will receive new
funding from the Hungarian-American billionaire to implement Uruguay's new law
of state regulation. The pair agree regulating the production and use of
marijuana will create, “an interesting laboratory” from which other ways
forward can be tried.
Not All Uruguayans
Approve
Since
introducing the law regulating marijuana, Mujica has endured
the criticism of countries and global organizations denouncing Uruguay’s actions
for breaking international treaties.
In
Uruguay, individuals can possess up to 40 grams of marijuana, while estimated annual
demand is 25 tons. This will be monitored by the National Institute for
Cannabis Regulation, which was created by the state for that purpose.
However,
not all Uruguayans approve. In fact, only 27 percent of the population supports
the regulation, while 58 percent are against it, according to Cifra, a polling company based in Montevideo.
Mujica also spoke of maturity and the need for
others to become involved. Without efforts by the largest consumer nations of
illegal drugs, little progress will be achieved by the new strategy, adding, “In
this case, the biggest markets are those with the greatest spending power, and which,
ultimately, hold the strongest economic attraction. Until things in those
countries change, it will be very difficult for the rest to do so. Under
current conditions, reaching an agreement on this will be difficult due to our
lack of experience. The world's political
systems lack the necessary maturity."
At
the end of his remarks, Mujica referred to an issue that
arose when Uruguay considered involving the use of the armed forces in the
fight against drug trafficking. However, President Mujica
rejected this option.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
“The
less contaminated with corruption the armed forces become, the more secure you
will be. The armed forces are like a bulldog you must be kept safe and secure in
the background, but without spoiling it or giving it too much affection, and
hoping never to have to set it loose.”
Uruguay's
new law will come into force in April, at which time Uruguayans will be able to
buy up to 40 grams of cannabis per month at their local pharmacy, or grow it in
their own homes (up to six plants or the equivalent of 480 grams).
