Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes supports Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s call for a debate on legalizing drugs.
“It is great that this debate is starting to come to life, really the only option is to depenalize [marijuana],” the 38-year-old said.
“Legalization is a very strong word and has lots of difficult connotations, but the depenalization of marijuana, for example, is a more viable path to begin with.”
The singer, who was promoting his single “Yerbatero” on a visit to Mexico, welcomed the Mexican leader’s comments and said that there was a need for a leader with the courage to put the topic up for debate. “Let’s hope that this person can be the president of Mexico, or whoever else,” Juanes declared. “The former head of state Vincente Fox also made a proposition to legalize drugs, so when Calderon says the same, it seems to be very important.”
His comments follow previous declarations that he is in favor of the depenalization of “natural drugs,” because he thinks it would help stamp out violence between drug gangs in Mexico.