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AP, file
More than 242 pounds of marijuana seized from a vehicle that tried to enter the U.S. near San Diego in 2010. The driver said he had responded to a newspaper ad allegedly placed by drug smugglers to recruit drivers to unwittingly take drugs across the border.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The war on drugs is going to the classified sections of Mexican newspapers.
Smugglers have long advertised work as security guards, housecleaners and cashiers, telling applicants they must drive company cars to the United States. They aren't told the cars are loaded with drugs.
Starting this week, U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement began buying ad space in Tijuana newspapers to warn jobseekers they might be unwitting pawns.
"Why don't we do the same thing that (cartels are) doing? It's successful for them. Why wouldn't it be successful for us?" Lester Hayes, a group supervisor for ICE in San Diego, recalls his agents telling him.
There have been 39 arrests since February 2011 at San Diego's two border crossings tied to the ads for seemingly legitimate jobs, according to ICE, which hadn't seen such significant numbers before.
One killed every half hour in Mexico drug-related violence
Those arrests have yielded 3,400 pounds of marijuana, 75 pounds of cocaine and 100 pounds of methamphetamine — a tiny fraction of total seizures but enough to convince U.S. authorities that smugglers are increasingly turning to the recruitment technique.
Drug smugglers always look to exploit weak links along the 1,954-mile border, even if the window of opportunity is brief. In the past several years, they have turned to makeshift boats on the Pacific Ocean and ultralight aircraft in the deserts of California and Arizona. In the San Diego area, there has been a spike in teenagers strapping drugs to their bodies to walk across the border from Tijuana.
Some suddenly popular techniques are limited to particular pockets of the border. ICE has not spotted significant spikes in newspaper ads outside of San Diego.
Guillermo Arias / AP, file
Motorists line up to cross the border into the U.S. from Tijuana at the U.S. Customs and Border protection port of entry in San Ysidro, on July 17, 2008.
Lower expenses for traffickers
Ads that authorities connect to drug smugglers appear innocuous. They offer work in the United States — an invitation that only people who can cross the border legally need apply — with a phone number and sometimes a location to apply in person.
New hires are told to drive company cars across the border, typically to a fast-food restaurant or shopping center in San Diego, according to ICE. When they arrive, they are often told there will be no work after all that day and must leave the car and walk back to Mexico after being paid a small amount.
The drivers are typically paid $50 to $200 a trip — much less than the $1,500 to $5,000 that seasoned smugglers are typically paid for such trips, Hayes said.
For drug traffickers, the tactic lowers expenses and, they hope, makes drivers appear less nervous when questioned by border inspectors, said Millie Jones, an assistant special agent in charge of investigations for ICE in San Diego.
Cross-border methamphetamine trade booms amid Mexico's 'war on drugs'
The drugs are stashed in the usual ways. Fifteen pounds of methamphetamine were found in a pickup truck's phony exhaust pipe in November. More than 250 pounds of marijuana were discovered in a van's overhead compartment last April.
More than 200 pounds of marijuana were found in vacuum-sealed plastic bags smothered in grease. Drugs are typically mixed with mustard, ketchup and fabric fresheners to defuse odors and ward off dogs used by authorities.
For years, U.S. authorities have bought newspaper space and broadcast airtime south of the border to deter illegal border crossings. The Border Patrol has a long-running media campaign in Mexico and Central America that includes musical "corridos," short documentaries and public service announcements.
The ICE ads that began appearing Sunday in classified sections of Tijuana's Frontera and El Mexicano are nothing fancy. Bold black letters say, "Warning! Drug traffickers are announcing jobs for drivers to go to the United States. Don't fall victim to this trap."
Mexican newspapers have faced online competitors but the papers' classified sections are relatively robust compared to U.S. publications.
Desperate for work, people often tricked
Victor Clark, director of Tijuana's Binational Center for Human Rights, doubts the ads will work without specific instructions on how to confirm whether a company is legitimate, such as calling an ICE telephone number.
"It's very difficult for someone who is unemployed to know whether it's a trap," Clark said. "I don't think many people are inclined to investigate if they are desperate for work."
Mexico arrests Knights Templar cartel chief
The cases can be challenging for prosecutors because drivers may not know they are smuggling drugs.
Debra Hartman, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in San Diego, declined to say how many cases have been prosecuted or cite any examples. Rachel Cano, assistant chief of the San Diego County district attorney's southern branch, said each case is different.
"Just like any other case, a theft case, we look at all of the facts and if there are sufficient facts that meet the elements of a crime and we can prove it beyond a reasonable doubt, then we file charges," Cano said.
Guadalupe Valencia, a San Diego defense attorney, said the ads by U.S. authorities might inadvertently help defendants. Attorneys will argue it is an acknowledgement that people are often tricked.
"It has always been my opinion that there are many unknowing couriers," he said. "The challenge for the prosecution is you always have to prove knowledge."
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Leave a Comment:
Why is it that for Americans, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse.", yet for everyone else who enters the country the rule doesn't seem to apply?
Odd that our government feels that so many foriegn countries represent a potential terrorist threat that we have to send the military to them yet Mexico seems pretty much immune. If the news is a true indicator of what's happening and the U.S. applied the same principles they do to countries of the middle east we should be at war with Mexico. Seems the U.S. isn't taking the gang warfare along the border seriously.
Another msnbc BS story. All of this crap is 2years old or older, they can't find any real news to report.
"The cases can be challenging for prosecutors because drivers may not know they are smuggling drugs."
They may or may not have knowledge that the vehicle has drugs stashed in it BUT they are in possession of the vehicle at the time of the stop. Just like any average American citizen - you are responsible for the vehicle AND its' contents. The excuse "oh I just borrowed a friends car or its' not my car" doesn't get you a get out of jail card. Same must be applied to these people.
Paul - 2539795.
They can, they just refuse to.
it is estimated that we intercept about 10-15% of the illegal drugs coming across our open borders, even coming in by submarines at a annual cost of 300 billion dollars; do you think that just maybe we are clueless to the problem.
legalize it, for christ's @!$%#ing sake, just legalize it already
Sp--what_the_81--we LEGALIZE marijuana (which I would not, under certain circumstances, be totallly opposed to.)
So then, the Mexican drug smugglers switch emphasis to Cocaine, heroin, Meth, etc, which are all ADDICTIVE. Is that what we want? Do we then legalize THOSE drugs too? And what about the little kids that run across mommy or daddy's 'stash' and die from an OD or just ALSO get addicted?
Nope, the solution is to treat our border as a WAR ZONE. We may not be able to stop EVERY LITTLE BIT, but we certainly could stop more than we are.
Of course, that would ALSO mean shutting the border totally to ILLEGALS, and no politician seems to want that. :(
MOmaid
Yeah, right after people smoke marijuana, they go straight to injecting heroin. Unless marijuana is a gateway drug (which it isn't), your point is meaningless. sorry for the sarcasm.
No, a war zone won't help, we have enough pointless wars and when has that solved anything??The problem is that we treat drug addicts like criminals instead of them having a disease. Right there is the problem with our policy. We could have clinics, where addicts could go to use their drugs in a safe area while receiving treatment to get off drugs. It could be funded primarily through the addicts by drug sales or some government funding.
I know you will say that it's crazy to do that. But as of right now, drug addicts cost the government (taxpayers) more money throwing them into jail than if we help them, you'd be surprised how much each incarcerated person costs us. If you want proof of why helping addicts will help, study how Switzerland dealt with this problem, they used to be the drug capital of Europe.
Chairman Mao treated "his" druggies like a disease. Only took one shot per doper.
bobbbsoxx2w
Yeah, and he also starved millions of his own people to death, what a leader huh?
pwv, why do you think los angeles is so screwed up.....
list is too long to print here....
Weed isnt a problem especially if you legalize it.
It seems that the Mexician Cartel raises more money for the Republican Party than any other source of income for the Republican Party.
so ridiculus....more the DUMB-O-CRATS if anyone...that's why Obama wants the latino vote...legal or illegal..
Spoken like a true McCain supporter. Way to go, keep up the bad work.
Unfortunately people in this country don't seem to understand how high the curruption levels go in our beloved U.S.A. Let us just continue going forward with our shields on our eyes like good sheeple.
The fosz, AlexD, and The Chuckster--the cartels don't CARE which party is in power. Trying to blame either totally is false.
However, RIGHT NOW, the pubs seem to be a bit less friendly than the DEMS. You don't see the PUBS introducing amnesty of some form into nearly every bill they bring up.
And the leading pub for PRES. is certainly not running on "wait till after the election, I'll get your amnesty for you."
Obama is.
End the war on drugs. Enough is enough! Secure the borders so that people cannot enter the country illegally. The so-called war on drugs is a failure on many levels. Various reports have shown this war to be a failure. Legalize marijuana, tax it, make it legal for adults 21 and older, and this will not only raise money in the way of taxes but will save lots of money for law enforcement and allow police to focus on serious crimes, it will also save lots of money by greatly decreasing the amount of people in prison. Its a win win situation. End the foolishness and legalize it already!
yes. it has worked out great for alchohol. Since they legalized it - no one abuses it anymore. And drugs are already legal- drug companies are making huge profits - and there is no abuse there. And California is already showing improvement since they legalized it.
By the way- it is proved that when an object is decriminalized, the criminals are still criminals. They will move on to something else. Will you then request that "kidnapping" be decriminalized? Or "offering protection"? How about human trafficking?
Or offering legal marijauna to our children?
Your solution is simply the opposite of what we are doing? That is not necessarrilly a correct solution?
Yes, mojo, and prohibition worked so well too. Legalize the stuff, anyone who overdoses, dies - good riddance, and any drugs that are confiscated gets sold by our government in distribution stores. Anyone caught, here in the U.S. selling drugs at an unapproved location, such as a street corner or back alley, gets shot immediately. You can produce drugs for your own use, but no one gets to sell, except the government. Teach drug awareness from Kindergarten, and deny medical help to anyone who overdoses, due to stupidity. Provide rehab, once, for anyone who wants it. After that, you are on your own. One generation and the drug problem will be solved.
The "war" on drugs is a failure and shouldn't have been prosecuted by the federal government in the first place. The regulation of these substances should be left to the States and only when drugs are involved in interstate commerce should the Federal Government be involved and only to the extent of regulating that commerce, not to prohibit what would be legitimate commercial transactions between peoples of different states.
Of course there are people who abuse drugs and always will be. Has the "war" stopped that? The answer is a big resounding NO. A legitimate way to reduce harm would be education, education works, ask the parents of children who have been told the truth about drugs.
Just be careful when you educate not to tell the sort of lies that were told to us about the "dangers of Marijuana". When we found out that the Fedeal government lied to us about these then we got to thinking that the government mught just be lying to us about other things (which it was and is to this day).
Mojo,
Do we have vast criminal organization making millions selling bootleg and sometimes dangerous alcohol? Are criminals fighting bloody turf wars so they can sell alcohol to whoever has the dollars, including children? Are we bogging down the criminal justice system with people who responsibly drink? No, no and no.
So marijuana dealers are going to move on to kidnapping, offering protection, and human trafficking if it is legalized? Not only is that not proven; and if it is as you say please provide evidence, but it would seem more likely that it would help prevent people from being victims of those crimes, as they wouldn't have to go to criminals to buy marijuana.
You cannot be serious in thinking that a legal business is more apt to sell drugs to children then drug dealers.
In this case yes, it absolutely is.
To use pharmaceutical drugs as an example of the potential dangers of legalizing marijuana is a complete apples to oranges argument, people do no die from smoking marijuana, it is far less addictive, and withdrawals are nearly non existent.
I'm sorry, but your entire argument sounds extremely ignorant. Let's put it this way, beyond anything else it is none of your business what someone chooses to do as long as they are not hurting someone else and the sooner people come to grips with this, the better our country will be.
No cases anywhere of an overdose due to cannabis. ALL of the violence and criminality involving cannabis, is in the trafficking. peace
Legalizing and taxing marijuana is not going to make profits, people will just grow it in their backyards.
Michelle- if my comments sounded ignorant -your's sounds as if from someone who likes to smoke illegal drugs. And anyone who thinks decriminalizing an object will get rid of criminals is ignorant. I am not for Prohibition-- but when they ended prohibition the criminals did move on to other crimes (look up mobsters in the USA).
And IF MARIJUANA IS NOT ADDICTIVE- then why are so many people willing to allow so many to die for it- Why would so many continue to smoke it- knowing the bloody deaths that came with it's transportation.
If it is not addictive why would so many people smoke it- knowing that it is illegal and that it could cause problems with their jobs, and family.
And the people who transport Marijuana- are moving into the human trafficking/ kidnapping business as the drug trafficking business gets more difficult.
And if we legalize marijuana- the criminals will start pushing cocaine and meth- this way-- And YOU will have your harmelss little maryjane and WE will still have an open border to the criminals.
Close the border and ask people like you to stop buying illegal substances.
Face it, the war on drugs will not quit until there is no market in the U.S. There will be no legalizing pot. It's not going to happen. You want to curb the amount of drugs coming into this country? Quit providing a market for it. Supply and Demand. It really is that simple.
Govt Issue - The market exists and will always exist no matter how much wishful thinking you want to do. MJ is legal in Colorado and California and other states with medical MJ laws. It is also almost legal for recreational use in these states. The "war" on drugs is a false war and, as such, is a lost cause. It is only the bureaucracy and the prison industrial complex that are keeping this country from implementing a more rational drug policy.
To legalize pot would be like the legalization of alcohol and we all know the great benefits of the tax revenue from alcohol. But the drug cartel provides far to much money to the Republican campaign so it will never happen.
I surely don't know who are michele123abc...but you most definitely one of my most favorite people on this little planet!
mojo7...you are lost! Cannabis users are by and large possibly the most peaceful segment of American society.
End prohibition and take the main source of funding away from the cartels. You can believe that legalization is the one thing the cartels fear the most.
The time for legalization is at hand!! Vote with your dollars.
mojo7
I smoked marijuana a bit in high school but not once in my adult life. All the crimes you say "they moved onto" after prohibition they in fact were already engaged in during. And according to that line of thought we might as well prohibit fatty foods that way the criminals can illegally sell that and not do worse crimes. Such an absurd argument.
I never said it was not addictive, what I said is it much less so then every other drug, alcohol, or tobacco. Why do so many people were clothing that is being made in horrendous sweat shops or were diamonds that are literally killing people who harvest them. Are those things addictive? Plus legalizing it would eliminate the bloody deaths you speak of.
Why do people say or do anything that endanger their jobs and those problems are rare when you are talking about marijuana.
Wrong, those are criminal activities they were already engaged in.
They are already moving and those drugs, my god are you really this ignorant. This is a very flimsy argument.
Close the border, legalize it, and people like you should worry about yourself, not what people choose to smoke on their time and in their life.
Mojo
Bottom line is the only reason that there is a problem with marijuana is that the government has made it that way!!!! It does next to zero harm to the human body when you compare it to alcohol and even further is the fact that when it is eaten instead of smoked then there are ZERO harmful effects and in fact there are BENEFITS to the human body that are being discovered all the time, number one is that it reduces stress hormones to Nil levels better than anything that pharmaceutical companies have to offer 100 to 1!!!
Your argument is weak and full of spook tactics designed to use fear and dis-information to manipulate people into what your particular agenda/beliefs are, and those appear to be ones that stem from the 1950's!!!
Mojo
I the way I should have said it is that the only reason there is a problem with marijuana is because the government choose to make it one!!
mojo7
Your comments about why marijuana shouldn't be legalized are just so bizarre and off-topic, I don't even know where to start, so I won't.
It's funny but if you ask just about any police officer they'll tell you they would rather pull over a pot head than a drunk.
Overdose and die...SMOKING MARIJUANA?
ROFL!!!!
Overheard:"Hey Johnny, I thought you said you couldn't find a job? Here's one, and you don't have to have that pesky diploma. Oh and look you get to travel to other countries!"
Close borders, they are all coming for us.... Land of the free ain't so free anymore....
A tinfoil hat wouldn't help you, mojo, you need a plastic bag over your head.
KLONE -is that a threat? you sound like a criminal yourself- only hiding behind a computer like a weasel...
The drug cartel provides far to much money to the Republican Party. The US will never see pot legalized. Just think of how much tax revenue came in from the legalization of alcohol but this would hurt the drug cartel.
But its the democrats that want the hispanic vote right now eh Fosz? So they're willing to let the mexicans have whatever they want.
Does it SOUND like a threat, you paranoid idiot? It's an observation.
You feel threatened by everything, don't you?
Insecurity suits you. Now go beat up a little girl so you feel a little more adequate.
mojo7
Everyone always says what about the children and I say what about them. All though I think kids should be able to live an innocent life, I say it is up to the parent to teach them right and wrong and not a concern for anybody that isn't your kids parent. Don't blame things being legal or illegal for influencing your children's delinquency. Be a parent and teach them properly and you won't have to worry about them getting drunk or high and if you can't do that then you shouldn't have kids, bottom line period.
Proud W.V., hispanic encompasses more than just Mexicans. You do know that don't you? I see you still can't get over McCain losing the election. Well, you got another chance this year. Romney, Romney!
The Chuckster--ABSOLUTELY, Hispanic encompases more than just Mexicans! HOWEVER--the VAST majority of the ILLEGAL hispanics in this country ARE from Mexico, and MOST Of the NON Mexical illegals GOT HERE through Mexico.
And please note, while McCain was trying to WIN the election, he (like many great "dems'') attempted to placate the 'Hispanic' vote by coming out in favor of another Amnesty.
Funny how once he was not trying to win a NATIONAL election, he realized that an AMNESTY would not be good for the US.
Obama sure hasn't learned that lesson--every time he turns around he is issuing executive orders to give amnesty to another group of illegals.
And I VOTED for Obama.
But if McCain had had the 'stones' to stand up to the illegal lobby, I might have CONSIDERED voting for him. (At least until he picked Palin as his Veep.)
Mojo - You really are incredibly ignorant.
x
We have wars on murder, robbery, drugs, and drunk driving, etc. Criminals are demanding we end ONE of those wars, and leave them alone. While it may be true, we are losing these wars, we CAN'T give in to scum.
Scum or no scum? That is the question. Look at what happen to the legalization of alcohol. This tax revenue help far more people than not. The people that are going to use drugs and alcohol are going to do it if they are legal or not. Society as a whole might as well benefit from it.
I'd be willing to bet, you have a book full of excuses to use mind altering drugs.
Get strong. Learn how to face life. It can be great.
Arizona, it is fine that you hate "mind-altering" drugs. Don't use them. I just don't understand why you think that all "mind-altering" drugs are created equal or why you think that everyone should live life the way that you do. Some drugs are truly bad for the users and by extension, society. Some drugs are just a bogeyman in the minds of people who hate them and actually cause exceptionally little harm, if any, or possibly even provide certain benefits.
The war on drugs, unlike the other "wars" that you mention, doesn't make anything better in this country, it only exacerbates existing problems and creates new ones. You seem to think that drugs are some conspiracy to "dumb down" the masses so that communists, or fascists, or some other tyrannical force can just come in and sweep away "freedom" in this country (based on what I've read from other posts of yours). While I do believe there is a conspiracy regarding hard drugs, considering reports that the CIA has been involved in smuggling cocaine in the past, it seems to be about money and fueling the prison-industrial complex that just keeps growing and growing and growing thanks to the war on drugs. In short, the war on drugs exists to economically benefit certain factions in this country at the expense of certain targeted minorities and political opponents (the Nixon-detested "pot-smoking liberal" college students who protested the Vietnam War - any wonder why today people associate pot with liberalism even though plenty of conservatives disagree with its illegality or actually use it themselves).
The "authorities" don't care about weed except that keeping it illegal is easy, targeting grow ops (for related money and property seizures) gives them operational "filler" (they always have something to do) and justification for more equipment (helicopters, IR cameras), and the users are generally mild-mannered and safe targets for enforcement. Weed is in a class all its own and to consider it alongside hard and addictive substances is just patently ridiculous, whether you use weed or not and whether you think other people should use weed or not.
If you want a war on "drugs" then focus on the isolated and purified, hard and addictive, drugs that destroy people's lives. Weed, and other "soft" drugs, do not fit that description and users of such "natural" substances don't need to resort to victimizing others in order to feel okay in life. If you want a war on drugs, then you need to suspend the military component of such a war. If we feel that certain drugs are destructive to society why would we approach such a situation by further destroying society, and freedom, the way we are with the drug war? The situation as it is today is this: if any drug you choose to use DOESN'T destroy your life, the justice system surely will if you are caught. That hardly seems like a rational, productive, or sane approach to me.
And, coming to the point of "feeling okay in life." Just because someone uses a substance doesn't mean they don't appreciate life for what it is or that they are "escaping" something. Some substances can trigger an even greater appreciation for sober life even when those substances are not being used currently and haven't been used in a great while. You may disagree with such a notion, and it is fine if you do, but that does not make your opinion a fact of life for everyone else. You could make your argument about "escapism" about any form of entertainment, hobby, or belief system like movies, TV, sports, music, books, origami, trebuchet-building, yoga, meditation, churchgoing, whatever. Watching a sci-fi movie isn't necessary to "feel good" about life, but we don't throw people in jail for producing those movies or watching them. Given that the Declaration of Independence describes how free men have the right to "pursue happ(y)ness," perhaps we should respect that right, as long as such pursuits don't infringe on others, and allow people to figure out for themselves what makes THEM happy or not.
A person is not inherently weak for using a given substance. Abuse can become a personal weakness, this is absolutely true. On the other hand, the use of certain substances require strength of mind and spirit that some other people could, perhaps, never appreciate.
I know that taking the side of the argument that I am tends to cause other people on the flip side of the argument to start throwing out terms like "druggie," but you and I both know that only ignorant people with nothing worthwhile to say result to hurling insults at the bearer of an opinion that is foreign to them.
The Internet is just as mind altering as any drug if not worse and yet you still partake, huh Mr. Tumbleweed?The real scum is the law makers and politicians that created this war on drugs in the first place, it hasn't accomplished anything except mass incarceration of already economically downtrodden and non white people, it has created a vacuum of power that can only be filled by the most ruthless and violent scum and in your home state Arizona you have a circus of drug mules and human smugglers taking a dump in your back yard. Oh yeah, one of the things you may be ignorant of is that the majority of real drug traffickers don't even touch the drugs that they sell.
Legalization may not be the answer by any means but locking up people for drugs isn't either, so if you hate drugs and drug users then maybe you should go bury your head in the sand sir. America has a problem that is only escalating to a boiling point where even non drug users like you will be forced to live in a police state. What that means is you will be watched and I know I don't have to worry if I am obeying the law but I don't want the government listening to me or watching me when I fart wrong.Have a good day sir!
Denver,
Legalization that would include a free-for-all for minors would be unacceptable. My own libertarian leanings, however, tell me that a legal adult should not face legal consequences for an action unless that action causes harm to another human being. With that, there should be no legal restriction on the voluntary and personal and private consumption of any drug, so long as no person except the user can make a provable claim, in a court of law, that such use is harming them. All other use should be subject to restrictions as the public sees fit. The government should research all drugs of concern to determine individual safety profiles, measures of addictiveness, side effects, and interactions and provide such information to doctors and the public at large in an unbiased way so that people can make decisions on factual information rather than "moral" propaganda.
The cultivation of any living thing that can be used for the purposes of temporarily altering one's consciousness should be legal for legal adults. The idea that the government can make certain plants and life forms illegal, to essentially outlaw nature, is archaic to me and absolutely absurd. The interstate commerce clause was never intended to rule over intrastate activities in such a way. Only a lawyer who wants unlimited power in a centralized government would interpret the Constitution in such a way.
Arizona Tumbleweed
wait, so are you telling me that the cartels want us to END the black market by legalizing marijuana? It looks like you're the only one using mind altering drugs here.
An excerpt from the "Book of Excuses".
http://norml.org/library/recent-research-on-medical-marijuana
I've known a lot of people who used hard drugs (heroin, cocaine, meth, etc.), I don't think one of them didn't experiment with pot before moving up to the hard stuff! Look at the picture in the article, how stupid do you have to be to claim you didn't know there were drugs in the bed of that truck?
Come on William. I've known a few drug users myself. Every single one of them were known to drink a beer.
p.s. - that was a picture of the truck after the bust. We have not seen what the truck looked like before the bust. In fact, that might not even be the truck at all, there's really no indication. Maybe it's just a picture of the retrieved contraband.
I did a quick search, and here's the first thing I found.
http://druglibrary.org/special/goode/mjsmokers8.htm
"Will you believe me if I tell you that I know junkies after twenty-three years of living in the gutter with them? Will you believe me when I tell you that I don't know any junkie that started on horse, that they all started on pot?
I don't know statistics, but I know a thousand junkies, and I tell you that they all started on marijuana. Using drugs is sheer stupidity."
Read this persons story on the site, and tell your children the risk of them being able to say the same thing is worth your ability to smoke pot legally!
We've got enough problems with alcoholism, especially among children. Legalizing pot would not help anything! Especially our economy, look at how much the local, state, and federal governments tax us now. What makes you think they would handle the addition revenue from legalizing pot any better than they have with the enormous taxes we already pay them?
You seem to have attracted some very dangerous friends. Why are they so attracted to you? Be more careful.
William,
Pot use doesn't lead to hard drug use. The fact that someone starts on pot is circumstantial and correlative, but that doesn't imply causation. Anybody can tell you that, and you probably understand that anyway (regarding other topics).
The questions, if you want to ask them and figure out how pot really relates is: how many people who have used pot in their life have used hard drugs? How many people who use hard drugs started with pot? How many people who use hard drugs started with alcohol? How many people who use hard drugs started with cigarettes? How many people who used pot and then ended up using hard drugs wouldn't have used hard drugs had pot been legal and not sold by a dealer who ALSO sold hard drugs? What percentage of the population uses hard drugs now? What percentage of the population used hard drugs before they were illegal? What happened to these numbers when various hard drugs were made illegal? What happened to these numbers when pot was made illegal? What happened to these numbers when government anti-drug propaganda advertised these drugs and asserted that they were all equally dangerous? How many curious people tried hard drugs after trying pot with the mistaken assumption that because they were lied to about pot they were lied to about hard drugs?
There are actually answers to some of these questions out there, I will let you inform yourself if you wish. There is no credible source that proves that pot use causes hard drug use. These days, even the propagandists have, for the most part, given up on such a specious argument. It simply holds no water.
If you want to talk anecdotes, I can tell you that I, personally, know people who use pot now, and who have used it for a long time, who are indistinguishable from the rest of mainstream America unless you analyze their piss. I could make the anecdotal arguments that pot use causes postive and healthy integration into the overall American culture, healthy social integration, ambition and success, familial happiness, and so on. But I won't do that because pot use didn't cause any of that, nor did it hinder it. Pot use didn't cause your friends to desire hard drugs, or use them, nor did it keep them from doing so. That is the truth whether you find it acceptable or not.
Why do we even have these Mexicans coming into out country? We don't have enough workers? Or we need more criminals?
The Mexican labor force that cross the border everyday is only their to take the jobs that you can not get the most lazy Americans to do. Their hungry and willing to work at also anything.
Fosz, you wouldn't happen to be one of those would you? Why not tell the truth. The really neat thing the mexicans enjoy about the United States are all the free handouts and no taxes eh? And you have the audacity to call Americans lazy? What about the old stories about siesta right after fiesta? Fact is, mexicans come here and take every freebee they can get, they work for the same wages and don't pay taxes, and then they hightail it back across the border where the dollar is worth more. And let's not forget the fact that they can steal what they want here and rape and pilage and then go back across the border before they're caught. Facts. And starving? I'm doubting that. Most mexicans eat better than Americans. And I know the mexicans must have loved it when the supreme court said it was ok for them to steal social security numbers too. Not to mention the fact they can carry their guns anywhere they want to here, legally or illegally.
Proud west virginian (why am i not surprised?), you are WAY off base. The majority of the undocumented are her for one reason: to WORK in order to provide for their families who are often times starving and struggling. Many of them do jobs that most Americans would not even consider doing. Most of them do not want handouts or freebees (sic). I know many undocumented people and they never even go to the doctor, and when they do, they pay cash, and they pay way more than us Americans do because most are not eligible for insurance. The reason many Mexicans eat better than Americans is because they actually COOK their own traditional (and amazing) Mexican food, more often then eating at KFC or McDonald's. The majority of Mexicans are very very family oriented and would stop at almost nothing to provide for and help their families (something a lot of Americans could stand to learn about!) Also, the US government has NEVER said it is "ok for them to steal social security numbers". That is still, and will likely always be, against the law. Where on earth are you getting your assumptions from?
amik72. You certainly know your Mexicans. Very well put.
Hi Chuckster,
Thank you! I am married to one, so that helps! One of the many reasons I feel the need to at least attempt to correct all the ignorant bigots on here, (not that many of them will listen) because I have seen and witnessed a lot of these things first hand! (And before anyone jumps to conclusions, no, my husband is not undocumented, not that it matters, but we have many friends who are).
Have a nice day!
Hello again amik72,
I'm married to one myself. Such a gorgeous creature that she is too. I couldn't agree with you more.
You have a nice day yourself.
so why have they not become legal????? they are still breaking the law. that is not ok.
A foreigner marrying a U.S. citizen is just about the fastest track to a green card.
If someone who is out of work does take a car across the border into the US and is busted for drugs, how can it be proven that the driver didn't know the drugs were there?? Sounds like a very difficult task to separate the knowing smugglers from the naive ones...
Not really. The law is clear. When we moved from Texas to Mexico my entire household had to be packed up one item at a time so they could verify what was being taken over the border. I could do nothing at all. They know (all Mexican workers) they are 100% responsible for what they take through a check point. These guys know what they are taking.
"Ignorantia Juris non excusat" At least that's what it is for American citizens. But the illegal mexicans are too ignorant to understand that. At least that's what they pretend to keep from being deported. They also pretend they no speaky english. Just another one of their little con games. Can we say bums?
All you have to do is drive "company" cars across the border is the red flag.
Proud,
It isn't that they are ignorant of the law, it is that they are ignorant that they are being used as mules. There is a huge difference there. I am sure that many of these unwitting mules would NOT take the job and risk crossing the border at checkpoints if they KNEW they had illegal substances stowed away.
I keep reading the comments about legalization and I chuckle. I live in Mexico, even saw a narco execution once while my husband and I ate dinner at a local restaurant. Personally I don't care if it's legalized, I'm not a consumer myself, but if you think it will make things better feel free. It would change what's happening to a degree, but these are businessmen and smart ones here. They will provide a "better product", and one that will continue to be smuggled, and don't forget about other drugs- like meth and heroine. Legalizing pot at least from a smuggling standpoint is like throwing a glass of water on a huge fire. What it would do is keep minor offenders- "stoners" out of the legal system that is bogged down.
Well, legalizing pot in the U.S. would take the Mexican cartels right out of that business. We already have homegrown weed in this country, and from what I hear it is far superior to smuggled stuff. There are many who use weed who have the means and the desire to only "smoke American."
The harder drugs have fewer users and you can actually overdose on them. While there may be some people who would try pot if it were legal there are FAR FEWER who would try meth if it were legal. Those markets are inherently limited because people know how truly dangerous those drugs can be.
I think certain legalization schemes are the only way to go to keep the cartels from recruiting new customers for extremely dangerous products. Some will say "yeah but then they will resort to more kidnappings and extortion, etc." I say "fine," focus on crimes where people are being victimized *without their consent.* This would free up police resources to focus on those crimes instead of protecting people from themselves and fighting a situation that is DESIGNED, as the drug war is designed, to self-perpetuate.
Proud W.V., Wow! What a disgusting way to think. Let me try and educate you. I doubt if it will work but I'll give it a shot. You seem to talk a lot of garbage about a people you know very little about. Not surprising to me at all. There are a lot like you but thank God there are more that are not.
First of all, Mexicans who have permission to work in the United States get taxed just like you and I would. I work with some and none, that I know of have been arrested for rape or pilaging as you so ignorantly stated. Actually they are very hard working and friendly to top it off. Another thing, a siesta is something white folks made up to stereotype these people. You might see and hear this on an old Warner Bros. Cartoon. That's probably where you picked it up.
Anyway, I find it rediculous and comical that you think you are so much better than others and your racism is, to say the least, appaling. You open your mouth but only Shiite comes out. Before you go on accusing people of being illegal, I want you to know that my ancestors have been in the southern part of New Mexico, (You probably couldn't find it on the map), for hundreds if not thousands of years and you would be considered an illegal to us. One more thing, you have got to be one of the most ignorant ba#$&*$d I have come up against in these so called blogs.
Meth...well people make that in Wal-Mart bathrooms.
I'd NEVER shop at a Wal-Mart...even if they were giving away ALL there sh*t FOR FREE!
War on drugs? This a another war America can't win...way too many waiting in line to be the next kingpin...legalizing won't help if government steps in...no real answers....it is what it is...maybe we can hope all the druglords just simply kill each other off...
"I didn't know I was smuggling drugs." doesn't get you out of a conviction. It might lessen the sentence, though.
The impotetent US government doing "battle" with Drug cartels in the newspaper. Warning potential drivers, they may be transporting drugs. This does NOTHING towards stopping the growing or manufacture of the drugs. As long as they continue to be made, they will be sold and used.
And that much seizure in drugs will help anybody how?
As long as we have WEAK people, we will have to continue the war on drugs. Users aren't strong enough to quit.
People world wide have been using mind altering substances for all of human history. There's even the theory that human ancestors eating magic mushrooms somehow sparked the transition from the dumb brutes they were to the complex thinking creatures they became.
Trying to suggest that everyone in the world will some day live entirely sober 100% of the time is ludicrous. Mind altering substances will continue to be used regardless of prohibition; prohibition only affects society negatively by turning average citizens into de-facto criminals, and by creating a criminal underground supply system. Legalization or decriminalization would eliminate the need for criminal drug rings, and drug use would drop across the board. See Portugal (which decriminalized all drugs in 2001) and the Netherlands, both of which had a drop in drug use across the board (Portugal currently has a smaller percentage of pot smokers than the US does of Cocaine users).
False. If that was the case then why don't people grow tobacco or brew their own beer in vast numbers.
The pot sucking druggies I know say it's easy to grow. A lot easier than tobacco.
While the booze-swilling drunks can barely say anything.
Yes klone: I'll agree with that.
The act of having pot illegal is the root. When you push marijuana to the black market that exposes users to harder drugs and this especially dangerous with youth. Legalizing would go a long way in stopping children from smoking pot. Think about who is more willing to sell marijuana to a minor a drug dealer or legal business. When I was in High school it was way easier to get marijuana then alcohol or tobacco.
At the highest level you would be surprised what the balancing act is and it is basically Obama spitting in the face of every border patrol, CBP, and local cop in the nation....
Anyone figure out what fast and furious was meant to "develop" yet??
Come on MSNBC...at least pretend your reputations are not compromised and cover it...
Rich, fast and furious was started under Bush, and like some other policies that Bush started, Obama is keeping those policies going. You know that, but just want to make Obama look bad.
TARP 1, Bush's policies, no strings attached to the money.
TARP 2, Obama's policies, banks pay back all the money, with interest.
AUTO Bailout, Bush started it, Obama carried it out. Bush praised Obama for doing so.
Like I said, it's the same with fast and furious, but it was a flawed policy, just like your "trickle down" BS is a failed policy.
Our government being the sneaky, sly snake in the grass that it is, will let the problem get totally out of control just so we can sell our weapons and enforcement to the stupid countries that will ask for our help. Luckily our snaky government is having the tables turned as these countries get hip to the fact that America can't even put it's money where it's mouth is. We won't be the ones to lead the way in the battle against drugs, it will be the source countries that finally figure it out and America will be forced to follow suit.
Mexico is like the unflushed toilet you find in gas station bathrooms.
Oh God! Here we go again. Give it a rest Leroy. We know that there are hundreds of toilets in the world including, ghettos right here in our own country and the ones in Africa where your ancestors came from.
So after 40 years of failed and bloody marijuana prohibition the U.S. finally comes up with the big guns - classified newspaper ads. That should work! lol
So we try to prevent the drugs from coming through the border, but basically ignore the criminals that cross daily?
Better yet - just legalize marijuana and tax it.
3400 pounds = 54,400 oz = $10,880,000, if it's the half-decent stuff
In turn, that = roughly 13,600,000 individual joints, which, if sold in packs of 10 = 1,360,000 packs of joints.
At $5.00/pack and roughly the same 50% tax as cigarettes, that's $34,00,000 in tax revenue alone.
Add to that the additional revenues generated by the sale of drinks and munchies, iTunes downloads of movies and music no non-stoned person would normally listen to, and you can figure an additional $54,000,000 in tax revenues.
Then, with sales doing so well, and a majority of the nation stoned most of the time, the GOP might just get a candidate elected again. It's a win-win-win scenerio.
I believe the number published by most economists who've studied the potential tax revenue from legalized pot, is 72 billion a year.
But keep the cocaine flowing, wallstreet wouldn't know what to do with themselves if the cocaine and hookers dried up.
Legalizing marijuana may not be perfect .. maybe not even close BUT ... look at what prohibition did to this country..... How do you think the Kennedy's got their money .... old Joe Kennedy the bootlegger.... the amount of money removed from the drug dealers by legalization would be the smartest thing this country could do. The richest man in the world is a drug dealer in Mexico ... who now has HAMMAS coming to HIS country and if you are half foolish to think he does not own the country your wrong. When you remove the profits from this business you will remove the problem. You don't need to be a user .. I am not ... I also hope my children have not and do not but when you make it illegal there will always be a larger demand and that creates a business that makes " bad people " do " very bad things " ... we have alot of other things that our police & military would be better off concentraiting on.
Bootlegging is booze dummy NOT drugs.
Regan financed a whole war in Central America with drugs sold by the CIA, and you may safely assume the the great actor got a piece of the action to finance Nancy's jewelry, or shopping trips.
Drugs should NOT be illegal. Carefully monitored Gov shops should sell it. The money from it could forever solve the Budget Deficit. Those who want to use drugs will use it anyway, so let's just start making money from it. The price of the drug should include a special insurance for the user and it should pay for any drug related health problems in the future.
The DEA should just post an ad to double the amount cartels pay people to drive the cars and have them go strait to secondary inspection. It would be cheaper than a lot of the methods they use.