Both the United States and Mexico for years have fought side by side against the trafficking of illegal drugs, especially marijuana. But recently this past November 2012, the states of Washington and Colorado have decriminalized the use of marijuana by legalizing, regulating, and taxing it through proposition 64.

Also in November 2012, a survey was conducted which the results revealed that 79% of Mexicans were against the legalization of marijuana in Mexico.

Sergio Aguayo, who is a columnist for the newspaper "Reforma" called this move in the United States as a "slap" on the face of former Mexican president, Felipe Calderon, who spent his six years in office combating against organized crime and the war on drugs.

While many argue that the death toll from 2006-20012 as the result of the war on drugs is higher than 60,000. Mexican law makers have been also looking into a solution to this great problem of drugs, and have even introduced a bill to legalize this substance.

Fernando Belaunzaran is one out of many Mexican Congressman who want the drug to be legalized, and in a recent interview he said, "It's a matter of life and death. After the 60,000 dead no one can say that the life of Mexicans is not essential." Balaunzaran is not alone on this issue of legalizing the drug, joining him is the head of government of the Mexican Federal District, Miguel Angel Mancera, and also the governor of the state of Colima, Mario Anguiano.

Although the new Mexican President, Enrique Peña Nieto, on day one was against the legalization of this and any other illegal substance. Recently, in an interview with a Mexican television network the president said that because of the decision made in Washington and Colorado, this now makes us have to "rethink the strategy."

Belaunzaran also said, "We cannot go around this issue, because representatives are not here to only address popular or friendly ones either, but also issues that are controversial and vital to life, public policy and national security, like this one."

This topic is scheduled to be discussed in the House of Representatives in Mexico in the months of May-August 2013.

Joy.Ruvalcaba@sandiegored.com

Omar.Martinez@sandiegored.com