Mexico Votes to Decriminalize Some Drugs
By MARK STEVENSON, Associated Press Writer
3 hours ago

MEXICO CITY - Mexicans would be allowed to possess small amounts of cocaine, heroin, even ecstasy for their personal use under a bill approved by lawmakers that some worry could prove to be a lure to young Americans.

The bill now only needs President Vicente Fox's signature to become law and that does not appear to be an obstacle. His office said that decriminalizing drugs will free up police to focus on major dealers.

"This law gives police and prosecutors better legal tools to combat drug crimes that do so much damage to our youth and children," said Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar.

The Senate approved the bill Friday in the final hours of its closing session. Mexico's lower house had already endorsed the legislation.

The measure appeared to surprise U.S. officials. State Department spokeswoman Janelle Hironimus said the department was trying to get "more information" about it. One U.S. diplomat, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said "we're still studying the legislation, but any effort to decriminalize illegal drugs would not be helpful."

Some worried the law would increase drug addiction in Mexico and cause problems with the United States. Millions of American youths visit Mexico's beach resorts and border towns each year.

"A lot of Americans already come here to buy medications they can't get up there ... Just imagine, with heroin," said Ulisis Bon, a drug treatment expert in Tijuana, where heroin use is rampant.

In off-the-record chats and through their communications with U.S. officials, Mexican officials tried to depict the drug bill as a simple clarification of existing laws. But the changes are clear.

Currently, Mexican law leaves open the possibility of dropping charges against people caught with drugs if they can prove they are drug addicts and if an expert certifies they were caught with "the quantity necessary for personal use."

The new bill drops the "addict" requirement, allows "consumers" to have drugs, and sets out specific allowable quantities, which do not appear in the current law.

Those quantities are sometimes eye-popping: Mexicans would be allowed to posses 2.2 pounds of peyote, the button-sized hallucinogenic cactus used in some Indian religious ceremonies.

Police would no longer bother with possession of up to 25 milligrams of heroin, 5 grams of marijuana (about one-fifth of an ounce, or about four joints), or 0.5 grams of cocaine _ the equivalent of about 4 "lines," or half the standard street-sale quantity.

The law lays out allowable quantities for a large array of other drugs, including LSD, MDA, MDMA (ecstasy, about two pills' worth), and amphetamines.

However the bill stiffens penalties for trafficking and possession of drugs _ even small quantities _ by government employees or near schools, and maintains criminal penalties for drug sales.

Sales of all those drugs would remain illegal under the proposed law, unlike in the Netherlands, where the sale of marijuana for medical use is legal and it can be bought with a prescription in pharmacies.

And while Dutch authorities look the other way regarding the open sale of cannabis in designated coffee shops _ something Mexican police seem unlikely to do _ the Dutch have zero tolerance for heroin and cocaine.

Sen. Miguel Angel Navarro of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party argued against the bill. "This authorizes the consumption of opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine, and a variety of drugs that can only be bought illicitly."

Roman Catholic Bishop Jose Guadalupe Martin Rabago, president of the Mexican Council of Bishops, also expressed concern.

"It's not by legalizing the possession or use of drugs that drug trafficking is going to be combatted," the bishop told reporters, "and that's why the government should be cautious about implementing this measure."

The law comes at a time of heightened tensions over a U.S. proposal for immigration reform, including legalization of many of America's estimated 11 million undocumented migrants.

A demonstration by thousands of Mexican workers Friday to promote union solidarity turned into a protest against America's vast influence on the nation's economy, with many protesters saying they will take part in a boycott of U.S. products next week. The proposed boycott is timed to coincide with Monday's "Day Without Immigrants" protest in the U.S., aimed at pushing Congress to approve the immigration reform.

Ethan Nadelmann, director of the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance, said Mexico's bill removed "a huge opportunity for low-level police corruption." Mexican police often release people detained for minor drug possession, in exchange for bribes.

http://www.comcast.net/news/index.js...29/380295.html

Thought's?

How would you feel if this same law were about to possibly pass in the US (or Canada)?

I'm also curious as to why pot is not on the list.

I don't think a law like this would pass in the US, at least I would hope not. NO drugs(except OC and prescriptions)should be legal. As far as pot not being on the list, I watched the news the other night and it was listed there.

This is just another reason to close our borders to Mexico. We have a big enough drug problem without Mexicans bringing more over here.

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"Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged." -- Ronald Reagan

fine with it. Small amounts for consumption will save millions of dollars wasted by sending them to jail instead. I do hope a law like this passes in the US, although I think it is highly unlikely. There is still far too much government propaganda being spewed at the public about drugs.

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What, you mean like the fact that they are addictive? The fact that they ruin your body and ruin families? The fact that they kill?

Do you not believe any of that? What is wrong with your government trying to inform the public? I'm dying to know, because if you don't believe that these things are dangerous, then you really are living in La La Land.

You think meth should be legal? Cocaine? Heroin? Are you kidding me? Actually, coming from you Kendra, I'm really not surprised.


She does. If her kids ever become addicted to meth,(or any other drug for that matter) I'd like to know what she would say then.

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"Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged." -- Ronald Reagan

Kendra, I have read this a few times from you, and I am curious as to what you mean. Could you give me a few examples?

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You mean like tobacco and alcohol? Oh, wait those do that and are legal.

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Nicole

Denise you don't know what Kendra is talking about? You haven't heard her pro drug rant before. Kendra has stated many times how Anti- drug laws make good people criminals. They can't help being addicted to something. And cociane and Meth in small amounts isn't hurting anybody but themselves. And best of all Denise cops like your hubby are just out picking on folks. They should just let the little guy go and go after the big dealers. You've being here how long Denise?

Oh and Snickers its hard to compare Meth and Crack to Cigs and tobacco. Its like comparing Apples to oranges. 2 big differences.

1. Meth can kill you after one use and get you hooked after one use. It can also make you smell llike mayo and rot your teeth in a short period of time. Alcohol and cigs take years to show up health wise.

2. Meth making can endanger whole neighborhoods. One big Meth lab can blow up half the house nearby. People cooking it also put their kids in direct harm . Some of the stuff puts off fumes that are toxic . I don't think cigs and alchol can do that.

3. On and most hardcore drugs destory the enviroment too. Least I checked alittle beer and alchol don't require moonsuits to clean up.