Guatemala studying poppy and marijuana crops

The President of Guatemala continues to take the lead in Latin America on  alternatives to the failed war on drugs.

 Otto Perez Molina, continues to use international forums to spread his message that anti-drug policies need to be radically reformed.

This week, in Panama at the World Economic Forum on Latin America He proposed not only legalizing marijuana and opium for medicinal use, but creating a new agricultural industry growing poppies and marijuana.

He said that later this year, the Guatemala National Commission for Reform of Drug Policy could suggest that a bill be presented to Congress to legalize marijuana and poppies for medicinal use in the country.

"The necessary actions will be taken, it could go to an initiative to legalize certain products," he said when asked by international media.

When questioned about some examples he answered "marijuana, planting. The other -drug- that we are exploring is the legalization of crops on the border with Mexico (poppy), to be controlled and sold for medicinal purposes."