Mayor Aboutaleb has traveled to Colombia, in the middle of the coronapandemic, to "discuss" how to better deal with international cocaine trade. Shouldn't a minister have travelled instead, who actually has the means to influence our national drug policy? Why would our mayor, who presents himself as a keeper of "Law and Order", suddenly make this trip a month and a half before the election?
If the mayor wants to actually discuss our drug policies, why not discuss it with scientists, experts and politicians who actually have influence on said drug policy? If the mayor is concerned about addiction and abuse, why is there no mention of alcohol, a drug that causes far more problems in our society than cocaine?
We must stop our respressive stance on drugs and drug policy.
By making the trip to Colombia, the mayor is suggesting that the problem mainly lies there. In the meantime, underlying factors in our country are structurally ignored. For example, why is there no attention for the possible reasons behind addiction: the lack of a strong social, financial and emotional safetynet and the lack of a nurturing and inspiring community around you.
We must stop our repressive stance on drugs and drug policy. If the mayor is sincere in his mission to challenge the illegal drug trade, a message to our own government is more appropriate: legalize drugs.
It's time for a city that doesn't see drugs as the problem, but starts tackling the reasons behind addiction.