Saturday, June 23, 2012

Uruguay takes lead in quitting war on drugs

As Obama doubles down on the long-lost "war on drugs" by increasing the presence of American anti-drug forces in Honduras, many of the USA's traditional allies in Central and South America are distancing themselves from what has been a colossal failure.

Hundreds of billions spent, tens of thousands dead, and drugs cheaper and more plentiful on America's streets than ever.

Now the government of Uruguay has introduced legislation that will put the narcos out of business by nationalizing the drugs trade.

That's right, the Uruguayan pot smokers will be able to buy their next baggie at the government dispensary.

No more seeking out shady characters for back-alley deals.

No more gunpoint ripoffs.

No more civilians caught in the cross-fire as rival gangs settle accounts.

And instead of spending billions hunting down and incarcerating the traffickers, the state can now tax the product and reinvest the money in social spending.

Perhaps this is the beginning of the end for the forty year farce we call the war on drugs.

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