Lucy Steigerwald on Latin American Leaders Talking Drug Legalization
On Friday in Cartagena, Colombia, leaders from North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean will gather for the Summit of the Americas. There's no official agenda, nor is there much word as to what definitely will be discussed beyond freer trade and "civil security." But a flurry of editorials and articles stressing the need to acknowledge the elephant-in-the-room issue of the drug war have suddenly appeared. From The Guardian to The Miami Herald to The Huffington Post there are comments from Latin American leaders (or articles weighty with references to their new views), all saying that it's time we talk about drug legalization. Finally, writes Associate Editor Lucy Steigerwald, the violence-spawning elephant is under discussion. Will President Barack Obama join the conversation?
