Hillary Clinton Says Drug Legalization Would Stop Violence

Advocates for legalizing marijuana and other drugs often argue that decriminalization would curb drug violence by putting brutal cartels out of business. But Secretary of State Hillary Clinton isn't buying that.

Speaking at a forum hosted by Foreign Policy magazine, Clinton challenged claims from some Central American leaders that an end to the American "war on drugs" would curtail the violence that has plagued the region.

"I am not convinced of that, speaking personally," she said after a question from the Costa Rican ambassador. "When you've got ruthless, vicious people who have made money one way and it's somehow blocked, they'll figure out another way." Clinton said investment in quality of life in drug-stricken nations was key to success against drug trafficking.

Her comments come shortly after Colorado and Washington state voted to legalize marijuana, which Clinton said the Obama administration is still evaluating.

• Category

  News & Politics

[redlightmax]

"Hillary Clinton Says Drug Legalization Would Stop Violence"

*Wouldn't

[Tedfromwork]

Shitty ass headline OMG

[Psychocatalyst]

We need to have drugs that are pure and with dosage recommendations, as opposed to drugs cut with a slew of different materials. We need to have regulated stores where they can be sold that are held accountable for selling them to minors. We need to enforce DUI laws. We need to enforce laws dealing with the well being of children. We do not need to throw a ton of people in jail for doing nothing but consuming a drug without harming others. Sorry, if it hurts your moral compass.

[Psychocatalyst]

Yes, actually it will. In fact the very notion that ending the drug war won't end the drug war is your statement. Which is conflicting itself. If you don't believe violence will be diminished look at alcohol prohibition. What we need to do is legalize all drugs. Increase education in schools about drugs and their true harms(not the semi-truths that are now taught), increase availability of addiction treatment and destigmatized the whole subject so addicts will come forward and get help.

[sbfjord]

"...they'll figure out another way."

Like selling it legally, for profit, and without risk of incarceration or federal agents shooting at them and seizing their product?

I'm not saying that legalizing pot would eliminate the crime associated with it, but it would reduce it. After all, alcohol causes problems today, but not to the extend it did during the prohibition.

[legomaster1998ful]

All of you pot heads stop its bad I've been in mexico and it horrible there is a lot of shooting. Cartels make 5% of their money of money from the US. Also making a drug legal will not stop the drug war. So shut the fuck up you god damn liberals

[David Eggers]

I've seen heroin addicts that hold stable jobs and look like normal people. Not in the US though, where we either spend $35,000 a year locking them up or put them on the streets to somehow raise $40,000 a year to support their habit. Addiction to drugs is an awful condition, but the crime comes from their complete prohibition.

[a2thek47]

when marijuana will be legal everybody will forget about war ;))

[internetonsetadd]

For a second there I thought I respected Clinton. Phew, that was a close one.