The country of Brazil is one of the most economically powerful countries in the entire world. Part of this economic success derives from a long history of illegal drug exportation, creating some wealth in poor areas of the country where the invisible black market gives people money and affects their local economy in a huge way.
The law in Brazil is that drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and crack are all outlawed for any personal use. The difference between the United States and Brazil though, is the tolerance for the use of these drugs and how they use them to control their general population. In Brazil, marijuana and cocaine themselves are illegal for personal use, but it is generally tolerated throughout the country. Punishments for having a drug like marijuana in Brazil for personal use can result in being forced to take an educational course on drugs, community service, or most of the time, being let off with a simple warning.
The history of their drug laws have come from a large history of struggle between the people and the government. The drug market is a huge economic propeller for the people of Brazil, because the growth and exportation of marijuana or cocaine is ever prevalent in a semi-tolerant society. Brazil’s drug law enforcement stemmed from the old President Lula Silva, who in a time global economic depression understood the importance of this unaccounted for money in the drug black market for the people of Brazil, from the drug lords themselves to the laborers who could not find another job. Many say that the government are filled with officials such as this that are profiteering off of strong cartel groups by 'looking the other way'. The war on drugs in Brazil is one that continues to wage on. In recent years, a change in Presidency and a crack-cocaine drug usage epidemic for the country has led to efforts for stricter policies and greater enforcement on stopping the exportation of all illegal drugs, including cannabis. The economic and social impact of drugs and the war on drugs is bigger than the country itself, it reaches a global market and has the potential to reach people who do not have access to good jobs with livable wages or government dollars. The following information shows the various economic states and demographics of the United States and Brazil, knowing that these numbers are affected by the black market of drug trade, we can see how policies and tolerance of these countries affect economic and social aspect numbers:
The law in Brazil is that drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and crack are all outlawed for any personal use. The difference between the United States and Brazil though, is the tolerance for the use of these drugs and how they use them to control their general population. In Brazil, marijuana and cocaine themselves are illegal for personal use, but it is generally tolerated throughout the country. Punishments for having a drug like marijuana in Brazil for personal use can result in being forced to take an educational course on drugs, community service, or most of the time, being let off with a simple warning.
The history of their drug laws have come from a large history of struggle between the people and the government. The drug market is a huge economic propeller for the people of Brazil, because the growth and exportation of marijuana or cocaine is ever prevalent in a semi-tolerant society. Brazil’s drug law enforcement stemmed from the old President Lula Silva, who in a time global economic depression understood the importance of this unaccounted for money in the drug black market for the people of Brazil, from the drug lords themselves to the laborers who could not find another job. Many say that the government are filled with officials such as this that are profiteering off of strong cartel groups by 'looking the other way'. The war on drugs in Brazil is one that continues to wage on. In recent years, a change in Presidency and a crack-cocaine drug usage epidemic for the country has led to efforts for stricter policies and greater enforcement on stopping the exportation of all illegal drugs, including cannabis. The economic and social impact of drugs and the war on drugs is bigger than the country itself, it reaches a global market and has the potential to reach people who do not have access to good jobs with livable wages or government dollars. The following information shows the various economic states and demographics of the United States and Brazil, knowing that these numbers are affected by the black market of drug trade, we can see how policies and tolerance of these countries affect economic and social aspect numbers:
Social movements for the legalization of marijuana and cocaine use in Brazil is an argument that many different organizations are making in order to try to make Brazil a safer and even more economically viable place. They argue that the people would feel a direct impact of the economy if the government helped regulate the exportation of one of the largest economic generators of their country rather than tear up the country by persecuting the poor or individuals that do not have a real opportunity to get a fair-wage job. Brazil has spent millions of its own dollars trying to fight the war, rather than look at the economic opportunities it holds, much like the United States. It has been difficult for this country who claims its officials have been profiteering for years from the black market. This corrupt war is destroying the youth and the trust between the people and their government, reformation of laws for this country is desperately needed for their own economic and social benefit.
Works Cited:
http://www.vibrant.org.br/downloads/v7n2_misse.pdf
http://free.clipartof.com/details/53-Free-Bandeira-Do-Brasil-Flag-Of-Brazil-Clipart-Illustration
http://infosurhoy.com/en_GB/articles/saii/features/main/2012/11/07/feature-02
http://countryeconomy.com/countries/compare/brazil/usa
Mesquita, F. (2006). The health and social impacts of drugs in Brazil and
Indonesia: What it means for development. Development Bulletin, 69,
64–66
Written By: Tyler Stone
Last Edited: May 5, 2014
http://www.vibrant.org.br/downloads/v7n2_misse.pdf
http://free.clipartof.com/details/53-Free-Bandeira-Do-Brasil-Flag-Of-Brazil-Clipart-Illustration
http://infosurhoy.com/en_GB/articles/saii/features/main/2012/11/07/feature-02
http://countryeconomy.com/countries/compare/brazil/usa
Mesquita, F. (2006). The health and social impacts of drugs in Brazil and
Indonesia: What it means for development. Development Bulletin, 69,
64–66
Written By: Tyler Stone
Last Edited: May 5, 2014