A More Peaceful World

The Mexican Drug War is the prime example of violence caused by the criminalisation of drug use. It has caused between 135 and 417,000 deaths.

Mexico did legalise drugs for 5 months in 1940, but under pressure from the US, made them illegal again. Criminal cartels took over the trade and in 2006 the Mexican Government stepped in to try to break the cartels by arresting the leaders, but this had the effect of breaking them into smaller units and increasing gang violence.

Poverty and economic inequality plays an important role. Why be unemployed or work for a low wage when you can get good money in the drug trade? Corruption and collusion in the authorities also helps the cartels to flourish.

Preventing Drug wars

There is a very strong argument for decriminalising drug production, for Government to but the product and sell it on to the pharmaceutical industry to use as feedstocks for mainstream medicines.

There is also a strong argument to seize all consignments of ammunition, using detector dogs, as with other regionalised conflicts.

Poverty and inequality must be ended. This will involve creating work in fields that meet human and environmental needs.

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