'US must legalise drugs to stop violence' - Former Mexican president Vicente Fox

Vicente Fox, who was Mexican president from 2001 to 2006, said consumption of drugs in the US was at the root of the problem and he called for the legalisation of drugs in America.

Forty-five thousand people are estimated to have been killed since Mexico's current President Felipe Calderon launched his war on the drug cartels five years ago.

Speaking to the BBC's Katty Kay, Mr Fox said it was time to withdraw the military and to seek an alternative strategy.

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[MrYadakun]

In a free society, people should be personally responsible for what they put into their bodies - not the government. And if they destroy themselves, that's no one's fault but their own. 

[PlanetEarthAwakens01]

@MrYadakun well said, drug addiction goes down when it's legal anyway, just look a Portugal.

[tinzovideo]

So he wants us to give into the drug dealers? LOL

[PlanetEarthAwakens01]

@tinzovideo Drug dealers are winning now. Who do you think makes all the money when they're illegal?

[KingMEXxxx]

Mexico,brazil,colombia ect want to legalize marijuana. Mexico says the only way it will be effective is if USA follows and does the same since they are the intended market

[JimyRoss]

he also said illegal immigrants are doing jobs "not even blacks would do"

[sierra123ful]

How do yall think the drugs got here? By the GOVERNMENT...and no the drugs will never leave the streets why? because there is alot of money in that business and that is what america is all about their MONEY! True you do have a choice to be the victim of the drug or be against it..but have ever thought about how da hell these drugs get here they werent here thousand of years ago

[archifx]

and what did he do while he was president? Nothing.

[NotQuiteLucid]

@0802epo A small fatality rate compared to the thousands who die regularly in the War on Drugs. It is quite literally a war. Accidental fatalities are preferable to preventable and intentional massacres.

[NotQuiteLucid]

@InfoGladiator Right, if anything, illegality creates a taboo around a product. If cannabis were legal for example, I bet much less people would smoke it. As it is most people smoke it out of a desire to be socially rebellious, a desire which is justified in many cases considering the gross suppression of civil liberties that is Drug Prohibition. Once it's legalized, I guarantee most people will suddenly lose interest.

[NotQuiteLucid]

@TheVictor6951 Not to mention ruining the lives of otherwise good people who just wanted to get a little high.