Guy Adams

The Independent

February 16, 2012

The President of Guatemala has floated the prospect of legalising drugs in a bid to stop criminal gangs bringing even more bloodshed to Central America, and will attempt to win regional support for an idea which is likely to face fierce opposition in Washington.

Otto Perez Molina used a meeting with Mauricio Funes, his counterpart from neighbouring El Salvador, to discuss the concept earlier this week. He described it as the only way to respond to America’s failure to cut the demand for illicit drugs from consumers. Mr Molina intends to seek support for legalising drugs from other Central American leaders at a summit next month. “We’re bringing the issue up for debate,” he announced to reporters in Guatemala City. “If drug consumption isn’t reduced, the problem will continue.”

The decision to explore legalisation comes amid soaring crime rates in the country, which is regarded as prime real estate by Mexican drug cartels competing to shift cocaine from South America, where it is grown, to the US, where most of it is consumed.

Since current policies don’t appear to be stemming that flow, Guatemala needs “to find alternate ways of fighting drug trafficking,” Mr Molina says. “In the last 30 years with a traditional combat with arms and deaths, it can’t be done and we have to be open to viable alternatives.” The President remains vague on exactly how legalisation will work in practice. His best stab at outlining the nuts and bolts of the policy came in a radio interview, in which he said: “It wouldn’t be a crime to transport, to move drugs. It would all have to be regulated.”

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