Drug WarRant Saturday, December 30, 2006 More problems for the U.S. drug war in Latin America Senator son of slain Colombian cartel fighter proposes drug legalization BOGOTA, Colombia: A Colombian senator and son of a presidential candidate assassinated by deceased drug kingpin Pablo Escobar has called for a congressional debate on the taboo subject of drug legalization. "The current repressive approach against drug trafficking hasn't worked despite the huge amounts of blood we Colombians have shed," Sen. Juan Manuel Galan, of the opposition Liberal Party, told The Associated Press on Thursday. "It's time to look at different options, together with other drug-production nations, as a way to break the back of the drug traffickers." [...] "Two decades into the drug war we continue having illegal mafias that spread violence across the country, we continue having guerrillas, we continue having paramilitaries," said Galan, who has yet to receive his party's backing for the proposed debate. "And despite it all there's no real solution in sight to the problem." 7:50:24 PM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment [] Thursday, December 28, 2006 New Year's Resolution From Resolutions for Sacramento in 2007: New Year's resolution: California's law enforcement should stop letting the "drug war" skew the criminals it targets, and redirect resources to capturing violent felons. Tax-funded police resources should be used in protecting law-abiding citizens from violent felons, not busting someone for personal possession of marijuana. Nor should medically approved marijuana users who grow pot plants for personal prescribed use be arrested or hassled. What are your resolutions for the New Year for the drug war? What do you think we can/should accomplish in 2007? 10:45:04 AM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment [] Open Thread What's going on in your world? How are your holidays? Have you talked to your friends and family about the drug war? 10:43:02 AM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment [] Tuesday, December 26, 2006 Enlighten Me Still on the road and I haven't had time to read it all yet, but this seems interesting. This LA Times article gives Mark Kleiman an orgasm, but fails to impress Alex. Read them and tell me what you think. And of course, there is yet another question: why are we wasting resources on criminal justice solutions for non-violent drug offenders at all? 11:51:07 PM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []