3 ms·

You're assuming that's what I meant, but no, not at all. One does not make cocaine without violence through some degree. As you noted, somebody making acid is p

You're assuming that's what I meant, but no, not at all. One does not make cocaine without violence through some degree. As you noted, somebody making acid is probably not killing anyone. But association with a criminal gang, even just through trade, definitely morally implicates them more than street dealers. That said, they will not break my door down to try and rob me. Street dealers have done that in the past. This is a selfish perspective sure, but street dealers are generally a much bigger danger to me than being murdered by Colombian drug lords. This is what I meant by "apples to oranges".. organized criminals are much worse morally (the law agrees here), but pretty unlikely to actually do anything to you, since they are organized and do not wish to attract attention.

Scoundreller 5y ago
Is there anything stopping us from having conflict-free organic fair-trade cocaine other than government actions and prohibitions making that impossible? If Colombia/Bolivia/Peru could collect an export tax or royalty on it before loading into the hold of a DHL cargo jet, I think their cartels would get disappeared overnight.
- FireBeyond 5y ago
  Right, absolutely. Decriminalization or outright legalization has some benefits in this world. Biggest issue I see there is that you still have to deal with corruption or infiltration by those elements too, who want their pound of flesh (and not to mention, in some of those countries, the cartels have the willingness, and the equipment and ability, to go to war with the police/military to keep their operation going).
  - Scoundreller 5y ago
    The police and military will always be poorly resourced for battles that are a cost centre instead of a revenue-generator/protector. Unlike marijuana, these countries have an absolute advantage in that cocaine doesn’t grow like a weed anywhere you want. And it’s low yield, so greenhouses are poor competition.

Scoundreller 5y ago

Is there anything stopping us from having conflict-free organic fair-trade cocaine other than government actions and prohibitions making that impossible? If Colombia/Bolivia/Peru could collect an export tax or royalty on it before loading into the hold of a DHL cargo jet, I think their cartels would get disappeared overnight.

FireBeyond 5y ago
Right, absolutely. Decriminalization or outright legalization has some benefits in this world. Biggest issue I see there is that you still have to deal with corruption or infiltration by those elements too, who want their pound of flesh (and not to mention, in some of those countries, the cartels have the willingness, and the equipment and ability, to go to war with the police/military to keep their operation going).
- Scoundreller 5y ago
  The police and military will always be poorly resourced for battles that are a cost centre instead of a revenue-generator/protector. Unlike marijuana, these countries have an absolute advantage in that cocaine doesn’t grow like a weed anywhere you want. And it’s low yield, so greenhouses are poor competition.