Apr 15, 2009
drug war, marijuana, Mexico, Obama
President Obama leaves soon for talks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday. We can't help but wonder: Will they talk about marijuana policy?
Consider: Mexico's Congress has been holding an extended debate on whether marijuana should be legal for personal use or remain prohibited. And Mexico's ambassador to the U.S. recently said this is a debate that "needs to be taken seriously" on both sides of the border.
President Obama, as everyone knows by now, addressed the issue rather less seriously in late March. So, once the doors close and the TV cameras are left outside, will the two presidents have the sort of serious discussion that still strikes fear in the hearts of way too many American politicians? We hope so. The families of the 7,000 people killed since January 2008 by Mexican drug war violence largely funded by U.S. marijuana prohibition deserve at least that much.