H/T: Cato

In a case involving possession of cigarettes, marijuana and ecstasy by two youths at a electronica concert, a federal court judge in Buenos Aires overturned the 1989 federal laws that criminalized possession of drugs. The court ruled that the punishment of drug users “creates an avalanche of cases targeting consumers without climbing up in the ladder of drug trafficking.” However, it does appear that the case will be reviewed by the Argentine Supreme Court, although the ruling is in line with Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's pro-reform policy. The article notes that this ruling marks the first time in 30 years Argentina has deviated from US policy in the "Drug War." At a recent Special Session of the Economic and Social Council of the UN, the Argentine Minister of Justice and Security, Anibal Fernandez, called criminalizing possession a "complete failure."

Obviously, this likely will not sit well with the Drug hacks in Washington. Since Argentina defaulted on around a 100 billion in loans back in 2001, it seems the Argentine government has been inching toward Hugo Chavez's sphere of influence and away from Washington. Obviously a weak dollar and record high oil prices is the primary enabler of Chavez's grand vision to break Latin America from the yoke of American Empire. I can't speak highly of Chavez's collectivist economic policies, but to the extent that anything breaks the tyranny of US-imposed Drug policy in Central/South America, that's a good thing. The fact is that the weak dollar is doing more to rearrange the dynamics of the Drug war than any DEA chest-thumping about enforcement. As it turns out, the substantial drop of supply of cocaine into the US is completely due to supply being diverted to Europe, where the Euro is much stronger. The focal point of this new European distribution channel is, surprise, surprise, surprise: Venezuela.

A weak dollar and rising oil prices, I would put my money on Chavez over Uribe.