Former Mexico President Vicente Fox Backs Marijuana Legalization

Mexico’s former President Vicente Fox was in California this week attempting to legalize marijuana by joining pot advocates to urge the United States and Mexico to decriminalize the recreational use and sale of marijuana.

Fox told reporters that legalization is the only way to end the violence by Mexican drug cartels, in which he blames on America’s war on drugs.

Fox stated, “The cost of the war is becoming unbearable – too high for Mexico, for Latin America and for the rest of the world.” Every day, said Fox, 40 people are killed in drug-related violence in Mexico.

The former Mexican President’s position on legalizing marijuana has changed over time from when he cooperated with US efforts to slow down drug production in Mexico during his presidential term from 2000-2006. He has also been increasingly vocal, backing a couple of prior efforts to legalize marijuana in Mexico.

Mexico’s current president, Enrique Peña Nieto, opposes marijuana legalization. But he recently stated that he would consider the world’s opinion on the matter, mainly in light of recent voter-approved initiatives to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Washington and Colorado.