Perico and Drugs going on in Medellin.

Lostgringo says on Aug 31, 2007, 14:43:

It's really funny the way they do "business" here. I mean the police. I know a guy who was arrested centro Medellin for taking a toke from another guy. They hustled the two guys into a truck and off they went to the police station. Once there the police went through everyone's pockets. They found week and coke on many of the guys they picked up. They confiscated all the drugs they found. However, in the morning when the prisoners were released the police gave out the drugs they had confiscated the previous day. So what you saw could have been just smoke and mirrors. At least that is the way I see it. The police apparently just walked by all the people sitting and laying on the sidewalks close by that were on glue and stuff. In terms of dealers, I have no idea if they actually picked any up. If you dare to smoke weed in the open in Colombia you may be asking for allot of trouble. It is really frowned upon here.

Oh, this guy did not get a fine and they made no record of his arrest! Different ball game here.

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panthdave says on Aug 31, 2007, 14:53:

It was the first time I seen this...because most of the time it's like you said Lost Gringo..Most of the time they concentrate on the big guys.but seen this time they went after the little guys in the street..Probably were all released but just seeing this for the first time police going after the street dealers..

Maybe its a good sign or they needed some media attention I know in my mailbox about four weeks ago in Medellin the police were handing out say NO TO DRUGS NOTICE and they were meeting notices for the local people to get involved with the police on this issue...

Similar to the States..in a way

panthdave Miami

robi666 says on Aug 31, 2007, 15:14:

Panthdave,
do you think there is a big drug problem in Colombia? I mean, you want to smoke weed or have coke, you go to Belen, you buy it from a window or in the shops, no problem for anyone, no big deal. How much for it? 1,000 pesos? Selling drug in Medellin won't make you rich.
So, what's the big deal about putting some street dealers in jail? Do you think narcos care about that?
Now, in US and Europe is a different thing: big money involved, big gangs, politic, crime, etc.
Drug should be legalized in Colombia, and in a way it is, because there is no big money or crime involved in selling drug WITHIN Colombia. So the thing is pretty ignored and everyone, I mean everyone, know where to buy it, I mean, not in the street, but through windows and in some shops.
Police would better use its time in cleaning the street of narcos gangs, (ex) paracos and politicians at their command.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

Leeroy says on Aug 31, 2007, 15:41:

My understanding was that personal quantities of weed and cocaine were legal.

Miguel says on Aug 31, 2007, 16:13:

Leeroy, your understanding is correct. As far as the rest of this thread, what a foking joke. So what if "they" busted street dealers? Chances are that within a couple of blocks of "said bust", there was a warehouse containing 20 tons of the shit. Seen it happen in Barranquilla.
¡No joda!

Lowell says on Aug 31, 2007, 16:59:

Time might be better spent by them looking for and arresting sexual predators of minors.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

static says on Aug 31, 2007, 22:21:

"Time might be better spent by them looking for and arresting sexual predators of minors." The majority of which are family members of the victim, no matter what TV would have you believe.

john_stark says on Aug 31, 2007, 23:26:

Well you know what they say about incest. It's a game the whole family can play.

Lostgringo says on Aug 31, 2007, 23:35:

Coke and weed are legal in Colombia in small quantities. And, you don't see allot of people drugged out all over the place. Sure you can see people stoned in downtown areas but it not prevalent. From what I have been able learn about this, is, you are not supposed to do drugs in public. They don't seem to care if you have a small amount on you but will go after you if they catch you, say smoking weed in public.

2 years ago I went to San Andres with my son. My son likes the weed. He, along with a number of his tourists buddies would smoke up in front of the little Police Station in front of the resort we were at. The Police didn't care if they did that in one location but would get really upset if you walked around the beach for example smoking pot.

I wonder what Colombia would be like if they legalized drugs like coke and weed in North America. Although I know that there are other countries who are big consumers of coke I just picked North America.

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john_stark says on Aug 31, 2007, 23:38:

Jesus, I always smell mj in public in Medellin not to mention the hordes of little huffers. Yeah, right, you're not supposed to do it in public.

Robert Jorge says on Sep 1, 2007, 00:28:

Guys who are known as users in Villavo, and also dabble in petty crime, seem to get on a police "shit-list". If they are seen walking around after hours, and the opportunity presents itself, they end up dead. I am not agreeing with this tactic at all, but it happens. Burglarized a house, stole a bike, smoke weed, and the police are aware of you, you commit suicide by walking down streets after midnight. My girl's next door neighbor was shot and killed by the police for the same thing. He had a reputation as a weed smoker, stole a few things, and he ended up getting pumped up by an UZI about 2am in Villavo while walking in the wrong place. There were certain nights, don't ask me how they knew, that my inlaws would be very concerned and insist that we take a cab rather than walk home. They were worried we would be mistaken for the wrong person, and wacked by the local police.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

robi666 says on Sep 1, 2007, 02:42:

Robert, there's a big difference between what they call "marijuanero vicioso" and a normal person smoking weed... Also, they call them marijuanero, but it doesn't always mean just that, but a person addicted to drug in general.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

Leeroy says on Sep 1, 2007, 07:06:

It's just as well caffeine and nicotine are legal, or I would be on a police shit-list too.

Lowell says on Sep 1, 2007, 10:02:

It's true. Police do wack problems causers. When My wife first told me that I didn't believe it. Now I do. Along with other words of caution from her. One nice thing about my family lifestyle is that I have no need to leave my barrio after 9-10 at night. I live near the end of a dead end street. It's nice to not have passing traffic infront of my place.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 1, 2007, 10:29:

.

Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 1, 2007, 10:29:

My guess is the Medellin cops were "taking action" to cause a distraction from something else they didn't want getting attention.

Anyone's guess what that "other thing" was.

Robert Jorge says on Sep 1, 2007, 10:32:

I hate to be cynical, but I think you raise a good point Hollywood.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

panthdave says on Sep 1, 2007, 23:40:

Well all I was saying in a way was that was the first time seeing that here...rounding up street dealers which I thought was not important to police here....Not bringing up this was good or bad or if drugs are legal just that I have never seen police here roundup street drug dealers...

panthdave Miami

Robert Jorge says on Sep 2, 2007, 00:36:

I hear you Panthdave. I also never heard of the police rounding up street dealers. I was just saying Hollywood had an interesting point, that since it never happens, there could be a reason behind it ... perhaps some funny business in the background. Otherwise, why would the police really bother? It isn't the police's M.O. to do that. Something must be up.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

mranderson says on Sep 2, 2007, 09:48:

I've seen people smoking weed out in plain view all the time during mid-day too. Even close to the small police buildings in the parks. Also seen 10 year old kids smoking what looks like a crack pipe(I'm no expert) next to the art museum during the day. On my way to work almost everyday I smell weed in the same spot. Close to parque barrio in medellin. Even had it blown in my face while walking on the sidewalk...(not on purpose)

droble77 says on Sep 2, 2007, 10:54:

mranderson, I think those street urchins you saw aka, "gamines" are sniffing glue

mranderson says on Sep 2, 2007, 17:08:

are those the kids breathing in and out of the black plastic bags? I was wondering what that was, but I also see a lot of people smoking pot. It's an obvious difference.

john_stark says on Sep 2, 2007, 19:21:

Those kids are huffers. There's a ton of them wandering around Medellin.

panthdave says on Sep 3, 2007, 06:29:

Weed I did not bring up they smoke that everywhere in plain view..Was at the University last night and they were all smoking weed in plain view with police just standing there...

They were rounding up only Cocaine and Herion dealers nothing with Weed and was wierd was the same day they were passing out information on Say No To Drugs and what to do if you see drugs and there were schedules for meetings parents can go to how to handle dru gs with there kids..Again I have never seen this kind of activity on arresting and campaign on preventing usage of drugs...I also talked somebody that many church groups are very concerned about street dealers and local usage with schools.

I have a feelling some of the barrios people complained that they were serving drugs in plain view and in front of there houses..which I would not like if I am sitting on my balcony and some guy is serving cocaine all day...in front of me...

I am for legalization for drugs and I have not seen yet the statue where small amounts of drugs are legal in Colombia I think they just tolerate it because it will be a nusiance on there system...

Thats a good question who here knows if little amounts of drugs are legal which is on the law statues for Colombia or its just they tolerate it and don't enforce the statues..

So is there a statue that says small amounts of drugs are legal in Colombia and what are the amounts..Lets take weed out of this..Herion,Ectasy,Cocaine,Meth which is here in Colombian you better believe it..Hard Drugs Only..

panthdave Miami

Tinto (Moderator) says on Sep 3, 2007, 06:56:

It's legal to have 20g of marijuana and 1g of cocaine and heroin for personal consumption. There was a recent effort (described in the article) to repeal the law but it failed. Others have noted that enforcement of the personal consumption law is uneven, e.g. you might be hassled and taken to the police station, but if you are not selling and don't possess more than the legal limits, you'll be OK.

I have no idea what the law is for the various "party drugs."

http://www.cocaine.org/colombia/legal.html

Lowell says on Sep 3, 2007, 09:07:

Here, down by the river and close to a police station, people go to smoke. No fuss no muss.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

panthdave says on Sep 5, 2007, 13:32:

Thanks Tinto

panthdave Miami