Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 19 June 2018

Former Mexico President Vicente Fox joins High Times board

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD Boehner, an Ohio Republi- step to full legalization "one
LOS ANGELES (AP) — For- can, reversed his long-held of the things that I'm abso-
mer Mexico President Vi- position against legaliza- lutely convinced that will
cente Fox, who calls him- tion and became an advis- happen in Mexico is that
self a soldier in the global er to a cannabis company. we'll take away half of the
campaign to legalize mari- WHY GO LEGAL? money that cartels get
juana, is joining the board Reason one, Fox says, is from selling drugs in the
of directors of venerable freedom, "which is maybe United States, and that half
cannabis publication High the highest value that hu- of the money will reduce
Times to advance his agen- man beings have." the amount of guns and
da. "I don't think that govern- ammunition bought by the
Speaking with The Associ- ments will ever have the cartels."
ated Press about his views capacity to impose behav- COULD MARIJUANA BE-
on cannabis and his new iors, to impose conduct, COME PART OF THE NORTH
appointment, Fox said he to human beings. At the AMERICAN FREE TRADE
foresees a day when a ro- very end, prohibitions don't AGREEMENT?
bust legal marketplace work. What works is your Yes, Fox says. Once it's a
will produce new jobs and In this July 18, 2013, file photo, Mexico's former president own free decision." legal industry and a legal
Vicente Fox speaks during a news conference on the first day of
medicines while sharply re- the U.S.-Mexico Symposium on Legalization and Medical Use of Then, it's history. "The war farming product, "it should
ducing cartel violence in Cannabis in San Francisco del Rincon, Mexico. on drugs has been a total form part of NAFTA," Fox
his home country. Associated Press failure" since the days of says. "It's another product
He also sees pot being part former President Richard that can enhance our pri-
of the North American Free are embracing legalized the growing acceptance Nixon, Fox concludes. vate sector, corporations,
Trade Agreement among marijuana in some form. of the once-scorned indus- Fox also cites the experi- farmers, retailers ... so it
Mexico, Canada and the Fox's appointment to the try. Earlier this year, former ence in Mexico, where should happen. We should
U.S., where some 30 states magazine's board points to U.S. House Speaker John tens of thousands of killings promote it."
have been attributed to HOW CAN THE U.S. REC-
drug violence. ONCILE THE CONFLICT
The trend toward legal- BETWEEN FEDERAL LAW,
ization "is moving out of a WHICH SEES POT AS ILLE-
crime activity, a criminal GAL, AND STATE LAWS THAT
activity that causes death PERMIT USE?
and blood on the streets, The only fix, Fox says, is to
into a business, an indus- change policy at the fed-
try, that is proving every eral level. However, "I'm not
day that it is sustainable," appealing to ... (President
Fox says. "To me, marijua- Donald) Trump because
na, cannabis, it's only the he never understands any-
first steps. At the very end, thing," Fox says.
these principles that I spoke Fox believes members of
about apply to all drugs." Congress should visit states
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO where marijuana has been
ACHIEVE AT HIGH TIMES? legalized.
"Well, I am a soldier, in the "Go around California,
sense of being an activist, visit Washington state, visit
working for this new future, Colorado. Look at the suc-
working to break the para- cessful stories ... Look at the
digm," he says. "In short, amount of taxes that are
joining together those who being collected, look at
believe in this future." the peaceful and harmoni-
THE LESSON OF MEXICO ous way this new industry is
Mexico has legalized me- being grown."
dicinal marijuana, but "We need ... Congress to
Fox says regulations are pay attention to this." Fox
needed to put the change says.
into effect. With legaliza- THE BLACK MARKET CON-
tion spreading in the U.S., TINUES TO THRIVE IN CALI-
and Canada expected to FORNIA, DESPITE LEGALIZA-
broadly legalize cannabis TION. WHAT CAN BE DONE?
later this year, Fox is ea- "The thing is, those criminals
ger to see Mexico follow that used to have control
suit."We have to come up of this industry in the United
to where the United States States are still there," Fox
is," he says. "This is happen- says.
ing in several key states "This is one more reason
throughout the union, and why in the long term I think
also like other world nations that all drugs should be le-
are doing, like Holland, like galized. ... But we must ed-
Portugal, Uruguay, so Mex- ucate people. We must ed-
ico has to be updated on ucate consumers. We must
this public policy." prevent the wrong things
If Mexico takes the next from happening."q