Mexico to partially decriminalize drugs

[ogrefugee]

Feb 12, 2007 — MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Felipe Calderon's government wants to decriminalize first-time possession of small amounts of drugs in a move likely to draw criticism from U.S. anti-narcotics officials.

Under the proposed legislation, users found for the first time with 2 grams (0.07 ounces) or less of marijuana and small amounts of other drugs ranging from cocaine to methamphetamine would not be prosecuted.

The bill passing through Mexico's Senate on its way to Congress is a toned down version of legislation Calderon's predecessor, Vicente Fox, pushed through last year but later vetoed after angry objections from Washington.

While the legally punishable amounts of drugs found on a first-time user are smaller than under last year's bill, the legislation appears to contrast with the tough stance Calderon has taken against drug-trafficking.

Since taking office on December 1, he has sent thousands of troops to smuggling and production areas wracked by violence that killed 2,000 people last year and has extradited top drug lords to the United States for trial.

Ruling National Action Party Sen. Alejandro Gonzaalez, who heads the Senate's justice commission and supports the bill, said on Monday that decriminalizing possession of small quantities of drugs and taking some pressure off addicts would free up resources needed to pursue dealers.

"This isn't legalization," he said. "We're going to go much harder against drug dealers."

Gonzalez said the Senate could vote on the bill next week. The proposal would then pass onto the lower house of Congress.

Mexico is under intense pressure from Washington to crack down on Mexican cartels, which ship heroin, South American cocaine and locally produced methamphetamine over the border.

But authorities are also struggling to control a growing problem within Mexico's borders as more drugs are consumed in cities and villages across the country.

Gonzalez said part of the bill would facilitate the fight against illegal drugs by giving state governments more power to pursue dealers and by increasing prison sentences. All drug trafficking is currently the responsibility of federal police.

Repeat offenders proven to be addicts would face no charges for small-time possession, under the bill.

Gonzalez said last year's legislation was blocked primarily because the quantities outlined were too large.

Copyright 2007 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

a nice step foward

 

[Guest]

i hope it happens this time!

 

[Farmer John]

Indeed a nice step forward, guess that means that in future it might be that they dont have zero tolerance in cities=you can smoke on the street without getting in trouble like me lmao.

 

[Farmer John]

And maybe I wont get bit by a dog next time either.

 

[HCSmyth]

I have heard through the grapevine that it is not just the US that does not like this but the local officials and local Mexican police are uncertain if they will be able to enforce local drug laws or not, so they may or may not like this law. And it is this uncertainty that creates resistance of this passing as well. Just a disclaimer I once lived in Mexico for awhile.

 

[Ohh.Word]

:fingerscrossed:

 

[ShroomDr]

I have heard through the grapevine that it is not just the US that does not like this but the local officials and local Mexican police are uncertain if they will be able to enforce local drug laws or not, so they may or may not like this law. And it is this uncertainty that creates resistance of this passing as well. Just a disclaimer I once lived in Mexico for awhile.

If the local Mexican authorities cant enforce the new laws, it only gets better imo.


I thought the first draft of this law had a 'Drug Tourism' clause for foreigners. Basically the 'legal limits' only applied to Mexicans, foreigners still got busted.
Did it make it into this new legislation?

 

[pipeline]

Why allow the use of drugs but not allow a supply of them? Seems like its sort of proliferating the problem by making each drug more valuable as they continue to bust the dealers and at the same time allow its personal use....