Cartels Face Economic Battle With California Pot Growers

In Northern California the growing of Marijuana has been a way of life for many families for a long time. The number of "Mom-and-Pop" grow operations are countless, and the number is becoming larger every day. The Washington Post states, "stiff competition from thousands of mom-and-pop marijuana farmers in the United States threatens the bottom line for powerful Mexican drug organizations in a way that decades of arrests and seizures have not, according to law enforcement officials and pot growers in the United States and Mexico". With more than half of the marijuana smoked in the United States now being grown domestically, it has become a serious burden upon the Mexican cartels. Now, the cartels face an economic battle with Californian pot growers!

The majority of all pot, up until recently, was grown in Mexico and Columbia; this allowed the cartels to maintain dominance of the trade for many years. Now that laws in the United States are becoming more relaxed as we approach potential legalization, the U.S. growers are severely cutting Mexican profits. "While the trafficking of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine is the main focus of U.S. law enforcement, it is marijuana that has long provided most of the revenue for Mexican drug cartels. More than 60 percent of the cartels' revenue -- $8.6 billion out of $13.8 billion in 2006 -- came from U.S. marijuana sales, according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy", reports the Washington Post. Cutting as much as 60 percent of the cartels profit could do great things for the war on drugs. It is yet to be seen if this trend will hold, but, it seems very likely.

Marijuana is an addictive drug and should not be overlooked or even considered a good thing compared to other drugs. However, the war on drugs continues and the death toll keeps rising. If legalizing marijuana is what it takes to fight the cartels, then it should be something everyone in America considers long and hard. In almost half a century we have not been able to come up with any kind of solution that has worked in curbing the cartels in their deadly game. It may be time to consider what is the lesser of two evils; growing and consuming marijuana or countless dead bodies? No matter what, a solution to the drug war needs to be found.

South American Cocaine Is Now Moving Towards West Africa

A shift is happening in the drug trade and new regions are being affected. The United States and Mexico have been working to seal the border in an attempt to keep drugs out. The cartels have begun looking for new markets to harness. South American cocaine is now moving towards West Africa for distribution in Europe and other growing markets. The use of cocaine in the U.S. is dropping but new regions are going to be dramatically effected. "But U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske said the shift does not mean the United States can claim a triumph, as the drug trade reaches into and threatens to destabilize new regions", according to Reuters. Kerlikowske does believe that this is not a good thing necessarily; the war is just moving to a new battle ground, the problem still exists.

West Africa has been known for corrupt governments and weak infrastructure. Drugs pouring into these countries are being trafficked through out Europe. The point of Origin for cocaine in the world is South America primarily in Columbia, Peru, and Bolivia. In the last 9 years the United States has given billions of dollars in aid to help stop the flow of cocaine. "We have not stopped the flow we have merely diverted it and the rest of the world is going to suffer. Latin America's drug wars are largely fueled by U.S. demand and Kerlikowske, a former Seattle police chief, is promising a balanced approach with increased emphasis on drug addiction prevention and treatment programs" states Reuters.

As we follow the news on the larger picture of drug trafficking, the drug cartels, and our continuing war on drugs, it is important to stay alert to our own families and friends. Be aware of the signs of drug addiction and alcoholism. The real story is unfolding in front of our eyes.