Mexico, the new Holland for Westerners?? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!



Go Back   TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards! > Members Lounge > General Travel Tips, Education, Advice > General Travel Tips and Advice

General Travel Tips and Advice Have you traveled before?- Please share your tips and advice with fellow Tpunks!

Raileurope.com: See Europe by train
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-23-2009, 07:06 PM   #1
marc873
Tpunk Senior Moderators
 
marc873's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: in transit
Posts: 2,063
Thanks: 3
Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Default Mexico, the new Holland for Westerners??

So, if you haven't heard, the Mexican gov. silently passed a law legalizing almost all drugs up to 5 grams.... Pot, Cocaine, Meth, Heroine..... Soo, the only thing left is for the Mexican President to sign it into law.... It was the presidents idea to pass this law so.......
So, do you Tpunks think this will change travel a bit?
Currently, I wouldn't go to most of Mexico due to the immense amount of violence and killings by the drug cartels.....
Do you think this will mellow the Cartel violence?
Does this make you want to go to Mexico after the law is official?
And, do you think in the long run, this will have an affect on U.S. drug policies....
Currently, many portions of the U.S. gov. are working to legalize atleast pot. It would be a HUGE taxable product......
I don't really agree with legalizing small amounts of Coc, Heroine, Meth, as we all know they are shit drugs basically.... But Pot is a plant, and as we all know.....
So Tpunks, what are your thoughts??
__________________
When an adventure ends you can never go back, never relive it, never hope to feel the same emotion. The secret is to not try and go back but to keep searching for new adventure....
marc873 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2009, 10:54 PM   #2
Sjack44
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 3
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Well I'm sure if the law passed and gets some socal coverage, that of course there is gonna be an increase in college student travel there. I mean why fly half way around the world to get high if you can do the same thing after a 5 hour car drive.
No matter what I don't plan on visiting Mexico any time soon. Not that I don't like the place or anything, but the violence and killings is too much of a GTFO sign for me.
As for the effect on U.S. laws, it could go either way. We could legalize it to say that we are open to the idea just like they are, or we could continue to restrict it and act like a better country. Thats weird that they would legalize all those hard drugs too. If you don't mind could you post a link?(although i should probably just google)
Sjack44 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 12:14 AM   #3
expatben
lover of Germany
 
expatben's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ontario,Canada
Posts: 2,660
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default

I think that it will increase "tourism" to Mexico from the US and Canada, on the other hand I dunno if it will mellow the cartels or not.
As for does it make me want to visit Mexico-no. I do want to visit Mexico but the Mexican government making drugs legal does not provide an incentive for me.
__________________
I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.

Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.

[color=blue][i][font=Verdana][color=black]"I'm just another stranger lookin' for the promised land"
expatben is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 02:09 AM   #4
raoulduke
Certified Wise
 
raoulduke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,488
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I doubt it's going to stop any violence, since the cartels generally deal in quantities larger than 5 grams.
__________________
One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die -HST
raoulduke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 06:52 AM   #5
epicballa
The Finisher
 
epicballa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 97
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to epicballa
Default

Until they completely decriminalize it, the cartels have no reason to stop what they're doing.

As for tourism, as if Cancun isn't enough of a spring break destination as it is, imagine the throngs of college students going if small amounts of weed are legal
epicballa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 12:46 PM   #6
LostFarmboy
TPunk Emeritus
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: From Aussie, but living in Canada for now
Posts: 1,789
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via MSN to LostFarmboy
Default

It is already incredibly easy for travellers to get their hands on whatever drugs they want while in Mexico, so I doubt the attitude of drug curious travellers will be significantly impacted by this. However, the novelty of actually being allowed to spark up a spliff on the main street will more than likely stimulate some interest.
__________________
My adventures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickt0909/
LostFarmboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 01:55 PM   #7
TheJake
To Smart For Mensa
 
TheJake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 5,585
Thanks: 3
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Send a message via AIM to TheJake Send a message via MSN to TheJake Send a message via Yahoo to TheJake Send a message via Skype™ to TheJake
Default

Well I think as it easy as it is to get drugs there, the idea of a mexican prison always weighs heavily on the mind as well. I think it will have significant impact on tourism until the US Government smarts up and gets weed legalized
__________________
Adventure needs to be as much about discovering yourself as it is about discovering the world.
TheJake is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 02:43 PM   #8
Sijuki
An Optimistic Realist.
 
Sijuki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Detroit / Las Vegas
Posts: 3,294
Thanks: 2
Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Sijuki Send a message via MSN to Sijuki Send a message via Yahoo to Sijuki
Default

If they create a tourism industry around it, yeah. Like if there are weed shops or smoking cafe's and you can trust what you are getting, then for sure it will get visitors down there.

I went to Mexico in February, I will be going again next February... the violence has no concern for me. I don't really care... I won't be Nuevo Laredo or Mexicali or southern Mexico so I don't think it's much of a big deal.

I read an article when I got back this February about there being armed guards and military checkpoints all around cancun airport and the surrounding cities, and amazingly, I didn't see any of this when I was there supposedly the same time this article took place, so I don't place much bank on what I read or hear in the media. Sure the cartels are violent, so are the gangs here, or maybe we haven't heard.

Now, I will steer clear of Monrovia, Liberia or Cote de Ivoire
__________________
.~Sijuki~.



2009-2014: February - Mexico (Cancun x 3, Cozumel x 1, Mazatlan x 2

2014 : Europe: Norway, Denmark, Hungary, Czech Rep, Germany, France, England

2015 : US:Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Joshua Tree NP, Salton Sea, Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Mt. Rushmore. 20 states. Europe: Stockholm, Barcelona, Madrid, Prague, Krakow, Warsaw, Ireland (month driving around), Northern Ireland, Edinburgh.

2021: Europe?

Need a Railpass for that Trip to Europe?
Or Maybe a Hostel Reservation?
Frog Creek Brewing -- Upcoming Microbrewery

Sijuki@gmail.com
Sijuki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2009, 03:41 PM   #9
Dig
TPunk Moderator
 
Dig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Austin Texas
Posts: 666
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I am really suprised that the American media whores have not gotten ahold of this yet. But isn't it easy to get all those drugs here in the US without having to go to Mexico? I go to Holland to visit Holland, not smoke the weed (that is an added benefit). I won't go to Mexico until the figure their shit out. Most of my co-workers are Mexican anyhow.
__________________
Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary FALL 2012!!!
Dig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2009, 11:21 PM   #10
augentier
 
augentier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Hickville, Wheat Field
Posts: 108
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

where is your source for this? i'm googling it but not coming up with anything recent (most articles i find are dated 2006)...
__________________
"Are you the guy thats telling me to beware cause i'll tell you where to be!"
augentier is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2009, 07:39 AM   #11
marc873
Tpunk Senior Moderators
 
marc873's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: in transit
Posts: 2,063
Thanks: 3
Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Default

It was in the NY Times about a month ago.... I'm not sure if the Pres of Mex. has signed it yet, but it was his creation.... The U.S. is being very quite about this...
__________________
When an adventure ends you can never go back, never relive it, never hope to feel the same emotion. The secret is to not try and go back but to keep searching for new adventure....
marc873 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2009, 09:27 AM   #12
juliagulia
Tpunk Senior Moderators
 
juliagulia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Columbia, MD
Posts: 1,872
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to juliagulia Send a message via MSN to juliagulia
Default

Yeah, I use stumble upon and it takes me to a lot of websites concerning this... US media tends to be very quiet when it comes to other countries legalizing/decriminalizing drugs. Especially Portugal... they actually have had many benefits from decriminalizing use of several drugs (including weed and some hard drugs), and there hasn't been much press on that (though TIME did have an interesting article on it a couple of months ago).

Anyway, I doubt that it'll really increase their tourism. If you're in the US and you want to smoke, you can get weed here for hell of a lot cheaper, in an environment you're more familiar with. With Amsterdam, you buy at a shop and you can trust what you're getting, who you're getting it from, etc. Unless they plan on building a similar industry (which I highly doubt, having the US as a neighbor), it's probably not going to have much of an effect.
__________________
Reminiscing about: Brazil, Canada, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Portugal, The Netherlands, USA

Living In: Belfast, Northern Ireland


Next up!

Poland (February!)
juliagulia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2009, 12:50 AM   #13
Legitikick
TPunk Recognized
 
Legitikick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 578
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via MSN to Legitikick Send a message via Skype™ to Legitikick
Default

The violence in Mexico is because of drug consumption in the U.S., not Mexico. So legalizing drugs won’t have any effect, other than pressuring the U.S. to do the same.
Legalizing marijuana, in Mexico or the U.S., won’t have any effect on the violence in Mexico. So much incredible marijuana is grown in the U.S., and even sold (semi) legally in California and other states so why would you import sh*tty marijuana from Mexico? Legalizing the hard drugs would certainly reduce the violence drastically . . . but I’m not sure legal coken, heroin, etc. is a good idea either.
__________________
So Far: Peru, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, England, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Nepal, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Morocco
Right Now: Grad schoolin' at the Columbia School of Int'l & Public Affairs
Next Up: The real world ... where one has to work, hopefully doing some sort of mediation/conflict resolution gig.
Legitikick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2009, 04:46 PM   #14
KillMyJoy
 
KillMyJoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 36
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via MSN to KillMyJoy Send a message via Skype™ to KillMyJoy
Default

I think I'd risk the drug cartels and a bullet to lay on a beach for 3 days with a nice big spliff.

I am aware that I can get to a beach in under 10 minutes in Sydney but our Tortillas aren't as good.
KillMyJoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2009, 04:39 PM   #15
Dig
TPunk Moderator
 
Dig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Austin Texas
Posts: 666
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I would learn how to make tortillas. Very EZ.

In spain tortillas are crepe-like plain omeletts. Cultural difference obviously.
__________________
Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary FALL 2012!!!
Dig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2009, 04:52 PM   #16
KillMyJoy
 
KillMyJoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 36
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via MSN to KillMyJoy Send a message via Skype™ to KillMyJoy
Default

Yum!
KillMyJoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply






Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:14 AM.



 

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.2.0 (Unregistered)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121