Title: Drug cartels are causing a refugee crisis – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs
Headings: Drug cartels are causing a refugee crisis
Drug cartels are causing a refugee crisis
Content: The reputed local drug kingpin traveled the area freely, but ordinary farmers were fleeing the province in droves, and the local press had become wary about reporting on cartel activities. By nearly all accounts, the power of the cartels and the extent of drug-related violence in both Guatemala and Honduras remain at extremely high levels. Advocates of drug policy reform in the United States and Latin America, including former presidents of Mexico, Colombia, and Honduras – and the current president of Uruguay – point out that the current prohibitionist approach to illegal drugs empowers and enriches criminal cartels. Former Mexican President Felipe Calderon for his part seemed to imply back in 2011 that decriminalization of drugs might “annul the stratospheric profits of the criminals.” But the reality is that unless we heed those warnings, we will continue to see the truly disturbing effects of prohibition, whether in the form of violence in Latin America or a refugee crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border. Post by: CNN's Jason Miks
Topics: Drugs • Latin America • United States
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