LOREE COUCH
THE SIGNAL
The legalization of marijuana has been a hot topic for many Americans. At the World Economic Forum in Switzerland the debate over cannabis surfaced again as Texas Governor Rick Perry stated that he has begun to implement policies to decriminalize the product.
The decriminalization of marijuana lessens the criminal penalties. Sixteen states have already decriminalized the narcotic and several are focusing on its legalization. This would allow for the product to become completely legal under a system of regulation much like alcohol.
This came as a shock to me after returning from Guadalajara, Mexico, where three hours away a war was raging. I daily heard about the war in Michoacan against the drug traffickers and cartel members. Armed guards in tanks flooded interstate roads on their way detain vigilante groups. My stomach tied in knots as I realized that my fiancé lived a measly three hours away from a war zone.
While the United States of America focuses on the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana, citizens of Michoacan are fighting a literal battle against the people who bring the drug to U.S. soil.
For approximately 12 years different drug cartels have ravaged the land in Michoacan seeking to control the region, the Knights Templar being the most dominant. The people turned to their state government for help and were met with silence. Finally they turned to the federal government for help.
The federal government informed the community that they could not find any evidence of the cartel’s influence, though the members of the community were face-to-face daily with leaders of the Knights Templar cartel.
In addition to drug trafficking the cartel extorts people in the community without regard for how poor they are. Strict land taxes, tolls and residency taxes are enforced and an inability to pay results in punishment.
Beheading and dismemberment are a common practice among the Knights Templar.
In December 2013, 14 girls, aged 11 and 12, were raped in the municipality of Tepalcatepec, Michoacan. The cartel then moved on from the children to the wives of men in the community. They kidnapped the women and refused to return them until they were pregnant.
Finally, the people grew tired of waiting for government aid and the citizens of Michoacan communities joined forces, acquired guns and ammunition, and prepared to defend themselves from the cartel.
War was coming and, in 2013, the “Self Defense of Michoacan” was created.
Men from all walks of life joined together to stop the cartel’s harassment. Teachers, doctors and businessmen who had never held a gun in their lives were prepared to die for their freedom and defend their community.
The group has liberated several areas of Michoacan from the cartel’s influence.
After the group’s many successes, the federal authorities were sent to unarm the vigilantes, telling them to lay down their arms and go home rather than attempt to run off the Knights Templar. The government now says that it will take control of security matters in the region. However, unwilling to lay down their arms until the cartel is brought down, the Self Defense of Michoacan vows to continue fighting to protect their families and community in the absence of state or federal protection.
The argument has been made that legalizing marijuana in the states would weaken the cartels. However, even in natural products like produce, the United States Department of Agriculture shows that Mexico is the most important supplier of fresh produce to the United States. As the leading supplier of marijuana into the United States, legal or not, the cartels would continue to maintain control over its production and distribution.
Mexican fields produce sixty-nine percent of legal vegetable produce, as well as sixty percent of illegal marijuana. The fact is that, with the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana, our use of Mexican imported marijuana is likely to increase, thrusting money in the pockets of ruthless cartel leaders and condemning the citizens of Mexico to the oppression they are so desperate to be free of.
It would be wise for U.S. citizens to open their eyes to the bloodshed, rape and torture that makes marijuana available to the American public. Governor Perry, is this really a product you want to decriminalize?
COMMENTARY: The Real Cost of Cannabis
LOREE COUCH
THE SIGNAL
The legalization of marijuana has been a hot topic for many Americans. At the World Economic Forum in Switzerland the debate over cannabis surfaced again as Texas Governor Rick Perry stated that he has begun to implement policies to decriminalize the product.
The decriminalization of marijuana lessens the criminal penalties. Sixteen states have already decriminalized the narcotic and several are focusing on its legalization. This would allow for the product to become completely legal under a system of regulation much like alcohol.
This came as a shock to me after returning from Guadalajara, Mexico, where three hours away a war was raging. I daily heard about the war in Michoacan against the drug traffickers and cartel members. Armed guards in tanks flooded interstate roads on their way detain vigilante groups. My stomach tied in knots as I realized that my fiancé lived a measly three hours away from a war zone.
While the United States of America focuses on the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana, citizens of Michoacan are fighting a literal battle against the people who bring the drug to U.S. soil.
For approximately 12 years different drug cartels have ravaged the land in Michoacan seeking to control the region, the Knights Templar being the most dominant. The people turned to their state government for help and were met with silence. Finally they turned to the federal government for help.
The federal government informed the community that they could not find any evidence of the cartel’s influence, though the members of the community were face-to-face daily with leaders of the Knights Templar cartel.
In addition to drug trafficking the cartel extorts people in the community without regard for how poor they are. Strict land taxes, tolls and residency taxes are enforced and an inability to pay results in punishment.
Beheading and dismemberment are a common practice among the Knights Templar.
In December 2013, 14 girls, aged 11 and 12, were raped in the municipality of Tepalcatepec, Michoacan. The cartel then moved on from the children to the wives of men in the community. They kidnapped the women and refused to return them until they were pregnant.
Finally, the people grew tired of waiting for government aid and the citizens of Michoacan communities joined forces, acquired guns and ammunition, and prepared to defend themselves from the cartel.
War was coming and, in 2013, the “Self Defense of Michoacan” was created.
Men from all walks of life joined together to stop the cartel’s harassment. Teachers, doctors and businessmen who had never held a gun in their lives were prepared to die for their freedom and defend their community.
The group has liberated several areas of Michoacan from the cartel’s influence.
After the group’s many successes, the federal authorities were sent to unarm the vigilantes, telling them to lay down their arms and go home rather than attempt to run off the Knights Templar. The government now says that it will take control of security matters in the region. However, unwilling to lay down their arms until the cartel is brought down, the Self Defense of Michoacan vows to continue fighting to protect their families and community in the absence of state or federal protection.
The argument has been made that legalizing marijuana in the states would weaken the cartels. However, even in natural products like produce, the United States Department of Agriculture shows that Mexico is the most important supplier of fresh produce to the United States. As the leading supplier of marijuana into the United States, legal or not, the cartels would continue to maintain control over its production and distribution.
Mexican fields produce sixty-nine percent of legal vegetable produce, as well as sixty percent of illegal marijuana. The fact is that, with the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana, our use of Mexican imported marijuana is likely to increase, thrusting money in the pockets of ruthless cartel leaders and condemning the citizens of Mexico to the oppression they are so desperate to be free of.
It would be wise for U.S. citizens to open their eyes to the bloodshed, rape and torture that makes marijuana available to the American public. Governor Perry, is this really a product you want to decriminalize?