Drug Trafficking: A Side Effect of Prohibition?

In recent years Mexico has come into the media spotlight as a drug distributing country. The majority of drugs found in the United States have been on Mexican soil. On the Mexican side of the border drug cartels are organizing drug smuggling operations across the border states. Drug cartels have a twenty to thirty year history but drug trafficking has a much longer history.

In 1914 the United States government passed the Harrison Act which was designed to regulate drug use. Eight years after its passing the act ended up completely prohibiting the use of narcotic drugs. In her article, Gabriela Recio points out that between 1922 and 1923 of the arrest for drug consumption made in Baja California 44% were of United States citizens while only 21% were Mexican. When it came to drug smuggling arrests 50% of the people arrested were Mexican while only 7% were United States citizens. Recio presents these figures to show that Mexico has a history of being a distributor of drugs and the United States has been the consumer.[1]

Not much has changed in the past 80-90 years. According to CNN.com there have been 60,000 pounds of marijuana confiscated by authorities along the California coastline.[2] Keep in mind that that 60,000 pounds of marijuana was confiscated but there is no telling how many more went undetected.


[1] Recio, G. Drugs and Alcohol: US Prohibition and the Origins of the Drug Trade in Mexico, 1910-1930. Journal of Latin American Studies. 34(1). P.21-42.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/3875386.pdf
[2] Mexican Smugglers use Pacific as New Route. CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/23/california.border.shooting/