http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060428/ts_nm/mexico_drugs_dcc
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Possessing marijuana, cocaine and even heroin will no longer be a crime in Mexico if the drugs are carried in small amounts for personal use, under legislation passed by Congress.
The measure given final passage by senators in a late night session on Thursday allows police to focus on their battle against major drug dealers, the government says, and President Vicente Fox is expected to sign it into law.
"This law provides more judicial tools for authorities to fight crime," presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar said on Friday. The measure was approved earlier by the lower house.
Under the legislation, police will not penalize people for possessing up to 5 grams of marijuana, 5 grams of opium, 25 milligrams of heroin or 500 milligrams of cocaine.
People caught with larger quantities of drugs will be treated as narcotics dealers and face increased jail terms under the plan.
The legal changes will also decriminalize the possession of limited quantities of other drugs, including LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, amphetamines and peyote -- a psychotropic cactus found in Mexico's northern deserts.
The legislation came as a surprise to Washington, which counts on Mexico's support in its war against drug smuggling gangs who move massive quantities of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines through Mexico to U.S. consumers.
A delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives visited Mexico last week and met with senior officials to discuss drug control issues, but was told nothing of the planned legislative changes, said Michelle Gress, a House subcommittee counsel who was part of the visiting team.
"We were not informed," she told Reuters.
HARDENED CRIMINALS
Hundreds of people, including many police officers, have been killed in Mexico in the past year as drug cartels battle for control of lucrative smuggling routes into the United States.
The violence has raged mostly in northern Mexico but in recent months has spread south to cities like vacation resort Acapulco.
Under current law, it is up to local judges and police to decide on a case-by-case basis whether people should be prosecuted for possessing small quantities of drugs, a source at the Senate's health commission told Reuters.
"The object of this law is to not put consumers in jail, but rather those who sell and poison," said Sen. Jorge Zermeno of the ruling National Action Party.
Fifty-three senators voted for the bill with 26 votes against.
Hector Michel Camarena, an opposition senator from the Institutional Revolutionary Party, warned that although well intentioned, the law may go too far.
"There are serious questions we have to carefully analyze so that through our spirit of fighting drug dealing, we don't end up legalizing," he said. "We have to get rid of the concept of the (drug) consumer."
Now we know were Dido gone to.....
The sign of an enlightened ruler and a blessed land.
well, maybe not the heroin part. or the cocaine.
That's going too far. Legalize weed but not the other stuff.
You know people joke but I have never known a weed head to hurt anyone. I mean there are stupid people that are sober. If smoking weed was legal at least in the privacy of your home the world would be a lot easier. People would be at home more and when they did go outside they would be too busy laughing and apologizing to do crimes.
Peter tosh! Baby! We gots to legalize it!
yeah everyone would be much more mellow. who cares if some things are left undone - lawns left half uncut, missiles on partially assembled, buildings only half as tall. Do we really need 81 floors of something anyway? I say 40 is good enough!
If the US ever did legalize weed, you can bet I would put all my money in Crispy Creme and Frito Lay stock the same day.
I would like it legalized because it would really undermine a lot of the drug trade and reduce many our our fine population in over crowded prisons. Tax rolls would increase.
But.......
Alcoholism is a big problem, and a one nation under a fuzzy groove might not jive with productivity, obesity, and literacy rates. Plus the weed really messes up the lungs.
the other hard stuff "hell no". We getting too freaky as it is.
Although I would love to go to an all inclusive resort and have one more run with LSD. Good stuff thats quality controlled. If Merck made it I would like to try it again.
But they don't, and I know too many dudes that got fried on the stuff.
Uh oh. You know what's coming here. You're going to cross portals. Come back as Nado.
Legalize it! I never mow the lawn anyway!
Posted by gunsnewing:
Legalize it! I never mow the lawn anyway!
not very funny guns.
Posted by Silverfuel:
Posted by gunsnewing:
Legalize it! I never mow the lawn anyway!
not very funny guns.
why in the world would you legalize coke & heroin though...thats just ridiculous! its going to be a country full of junkies lol
[Edited by - gunsnewing on 04-29-2006 2:34 PM]
I bet they just want to get Americans to start crossing their border by the drones! Should do wonders for the Mexican economy!
[Edited by - gunsnewing on 04-29-2006 2:32 PM]
Posted by gunsnewing:
I bet they just want to get Americans to start crossing their border by the drones! Should do wonders for the Mexican economy!
[Edited by - gunsnewing on 04-29-2006 2:32 PM]
There could be other reasons but I think attracting more tourists and catering to them is a big part of it.
