Mexico on the verge of decriminalizing possession of small amounts of drugs
{{date|April 29, 2006}}

The [[w:Congress of Mexico|Congress of Mexico]] has passed a bill that will [[w:decriminalize|decriminalize]] the possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use. The passage of the bill has drawn criticism from [[w:Washington, D.C.|Washington, D.C.]]
<!-- Under the law possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use including up to five grams of [[w:marijuana|marijuana]], [[w:cocaine|cocaine]], [[w:heroin|heroin]], [[w:LSD|LSD]] and [[w:ecstasy|ecstasy]] will no longer be a crime. This will allow Mexican officials to focus on large-scale drug trafficking instead of minor arrests. -->

Under the law possession of up to five grams of [[w:marijuana|marijuana]], half a gram of [[w:cocaine|cocaine]] (or about 4 lines) or 25 milligrams of [[w:heroin|heroin]] would no longer be a crime in Mexico. In addition, possession of small amounts of [[w:LSD|LSD]], [[w:MDA|MDA]], [[w:ecstasy|ecstasy]], and [[w:methamphetamine|methamphetamine]] would also be legalized, officials said.

Current Mexican drug possession law allows charges to be dropped against defendants if they can prove that they are addicts and if the amount is the quantity necessary for personal use.  The new law reportedly removes the "addict" requirement and sets specific legal quantities

President Vicente Fox is expected to sign the bill. According to President Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar, "This law gives police and prosecutors better legal tools to combat drug crimes that do so much damage to our youth and children."

San Diego Mayor and former police chief Jerry Sanders seems to disagree, calling the legislation "appallingly stupid, reckless and incredibly dangerous."  

"If enacted, even the most reasonable person will have room to question Mexico's commitment to the war on drugs," he said. "I think many, including myself, will view this as a hostile action by a longtime ally to the United States."

==External Links==
*{{source|url=http://www.google.com/translate
|title=Google Translate|author=|pub=Google|date=}}
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== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20060428-1857-mexico-drugs.html|title=Mexico poised to decriminalize possession of small amounts of some drugs|author=Mark Stevenson, Julie Watson|pub=Associated Press|date=April 28, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-04-29T010531Z_01_N281836_RTRUKOC_0_UK-MEXICO-DRUGS.xml|title=Mexico to decriminalize pot, cocaine and heroin|author=Noel Randewich|pub=Reuters|date=April 29, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0604290247apr29,1,1588921.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed|title=Bill OKs small amounts of drugs|author=|pub=Chicago Tribune|date=April 29, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-drugs29apr29,1,5883658.story?coll=la-headlines-world|title=Mexican Senate OKs Possession of Small Amounts of Drugs|author=|pub=Los Angeles Times|date=April 29, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/legal-cocaine-heroin-and-more/2006/04/29/1146198390602.html|title=Legal: cocaine, heroin and more|author=|pub=Sydney Morning Herald|date=April 30, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.fox6.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=3355BE6D-FECD-418E-94E3-68C9B2DD0C53
|title=Drugs Legalized
|author=
|pub=FOX6 San Diego
|date=April 28, 2006 11:24:55 PM
}}

==References==
#{{source|url=http://info4.juridicas.unam.mx/ijure/fed/6/556.htm?s=
|title=Articulo 524
|author=
|pub=Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas de la UNAM
|date=30 de marzo de 2006 (March 20, 2006)}}
#{{source|url=http://info4.juridicas.unam.mx/ijure/fed/6/227.htm?s=
|title=Articulo 199
|author=
|pub=Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas de la UNAM
|date=30 de marzo de 2006 (March 20, 2006)}}


{{Publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}
[[Category: Drugs]] [[Category: Health]] [[Category: Mexico]]
[[Category:Heroin]]
[[Category:Cannabis]]
[[Category:Cocaine]]
The Congress of Mexico has passed a bill that will decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use. The passage of the bill has drawn criticism from Washington, D.C.


Under the law possession of up to five grams of marijuana, half a gram of cocaine (or about 4 lines) or 25 milligrams of heroin would no longer be a crime in Mexico. In addition, possession of small amounts of LSD, MDA, ecstasy, and methamphetamine would also be legalized, officials said.

Current Mexican drug possession law allows charges to be dropped against defendants if they can prove that they are addicts and if the amount is the quantity necessary for personal use.  The new law reportedly removes the "addict" requirement and sets specific legal quantities

President Vicente Fox is expected to sign the bill. According to President Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar, "This law gives police and prosecutors better legal tools to combat drug crimes that do so much damage to our youth and children."

San Diego Mayor and former police chief Jerry Sanders seems to disagree, calling the legislation "appallingly stupid, reckless and incredibly dangerous."  

"If enacted, even the most reasonable person will have room to question Mexico's commitment to the war on drugs," he said. "I think many, including myself, will view this as a hostile action by a longtime ally to the United States."
 Drugs  Health  Mexico Heroin Cannabis Cocaine