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By Tracy Wilkinson
June 6, 2013, 7:37 a.m.



MEXICO CITY -- Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico, was one of the earliest and most prominent voices in favor of legalizing marijuana here. Now he says he would also become a grower.


Fox, who is known for provocative statements, argues that legalizing and regulating marijuana production would deprive violent drug traffickers of their profits. And then legitimate growers would naturally take over production, he says.

“I am a farmer,” Fox told reporters this week at his Fox Center in central Mexico’s Guanajuato state. “Once marijuana is legitimate and legal, I can do it.”

The millions of dollars that marijuana production generates should be going to business entrepreneurs and the Mexican tax base, the former president added, and not to the likes of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, head of the Sinaloa cartel and one of the world’s top fugitive drug lords.

“Marijuana with adequate controls and with legalization can perfectly well be an operating, legal industry [in Mexico] that would take millions of dollars away from the criminals,” said Fox, who was president from 2000 to 2006 for the conservative National Action Party.

At least three years ago, Fox became one of a number of former Latin American leaders to advocate some form of decriminalization of marijuana and possibly other drugs -- a position adamantly opposed by the U.S. government.

His latest statements, which were carried in the Mexican media Thursday, came as the Organization of American States debated at its annual general assembly alternative approaches to a drug war that many member nations feel has become too violent with little progress.

Several countries were advocating a shift in emphasis to public health measures rather than jailing and police action. The meeting in Antigua, Guatemala, winds up Thursday, but it was not clear there would be consensus on final recommendations regarding drug policies.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

...millions of dollars...should be going to [different] ]business entrepreneurs...not to the likes of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman...

Edited for clarity.

We've seen plenty of the results of "should be this guy instead of that guy" since 2006; have we not?

Originally Posted by Marty Cortez

Edited for clarity.

We've seen plenty of the results of "should be this guy instead of that guy" since 2006; have we not?

The "Dope Grower" change added clarity?

It took a while to understand the twisted way some Mexicans approach the drug problem: "The drugs go to willing US consumers who are the cause of the drug problem and also the violence because the USA is sending guns back down. Large amounts of drugs are moved through Baja every day. They store it everywhere; there is no social stigma attached to being in the drug business. They are your neighbors with kids and an SUV and ton of weed in the garage and no one looks down on them. They are just making money feeding the USA their drugs."

Originally Posted by Woooosh

The "Dope Grower" change added clarity?

It took a while to understand the twisted way some Mexicans approach the drug problem: "The drugs go to willing US consumers who are the cause of the drug problem and also the violence because the USA is sending guns back down. Large amounts of drugs are moved through Baja every day. They store it everywhere; there is no social stigma attached to being in the drug business. They are your neighbors with kids and an SUV and ton of weed in the garage and no one looks down on them. They are just making money feeding the USA their drugs."

Amen and well put. I have no easy solution either. I do believe that Marijuana is no worse than alcohol. But where do we stop? I hate it when Americans look down on Mexico for all the drug problems. We are the cause a-holes.

Originally Posted by Amigo Arizona

We are the cause a-holes.

Not entirely. Supply and demand. One won't exist without the other.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

Not entirely. Supply and demand. One won't exist without the other.

true. But that is just a glance at the issue. The money coming back down corrupts. This is how it allegedly works in Rosarito Beach- from the top down. The Chief of Police and Commandante shake down the cops each week for a payment. The payment gives the cop the ability to pick his patrol area or "plaza" and also get one of the better police vehicles to drive. The police then charge the drug dealers in their "plaza" for protection. If there wasn't a constant flow of drug money there wouldn't be organized corruption like this. There is nothing the good people of Rosarito can do when the police and drug dealers area team- under a Police Chief who failed his confidence tests. You can't solve a problem Rosarito Beach doesn't think it has- it's just business.

Let's face it, the Little Mosquito is ALREADY a dope!

Originally Posted by Woooosh

true. But that is just a glance at the issue. The money coming back down corrupts. This is how it allegedly works in Rosarito Beach- from the top down. The Chief of Police and Commandante shake down the cops each week for a payment. The payment gives the cop the ability to pick his patrol area or "plaza" and also get one of the better police vehicles to drive. The police then charge the drug dealers in their "plaza" for protection. If there wasn't a constant flow of drug money there wouldn't be organized corruption like this. There is nothing the good people of Rosarito can do when the police and drug dealers area team- under a Police Chief who failed his confidence tests. You can't solve a problem Rosarito Beach doesn't think it has- it's just business.

You just painted a picture of the whole country, Craig. It's the way it is although I would take exception to your term, "shakedown" when referring to a job description that is older than time and has a common method of operation.
The men at the top started at the bottom and went through the paces just as future generations will, and it won't be changing just because some politician campaigns on a platform of "Moral Regeneration" when gasoline is getting close to four bucks a gallon for cops too.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

You just painted a picture of the whole country, Craig. It's the way it is although I would take exception to your term, "shakedown" when referring to a job description that is older than time and has a common method of operation.
The men at the top started at the bottom and went through the paces just as future generations will, and it won't be changing just because some politician campaigns on a platform of "Moral Regeneration" when gasoline is getting close to four bucks a gallon for cops too.

Yup, it's futile. It's not a war, it's an economic paradigm shift where the black market feeds the economy. Mexico needs it this way because that cycle is how the drug money re-enters the Mexican economy and keeps the juices flowing. Drug Money and Remittances are probably in the top 5 sources of national income. The drug money pays everyone up and down the line so they can live beyond their meager salaries. It's a pyramid scheme of sorts for sure. Most narcos don't get rich, they just get enough more money to have a good life. No one wants the money to end- so Mexico stops the drug war talk to focus on tourism and the economy. The economy and tourism are dependent upon a secure environment free of repression- so that approach is a non starter imho.

I'm not sure what comes next.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

Drug Money and Remittances are probably in the top 5 sources of national income.

Remittances used to be #2, but I don't know where they stand today.
As far as getting a number on the drug loot.......I doubt the world would tolerate the government being openly privy to that number. That's getting a bit too cozy for public knowledge.