02 May 2006

Decriminalization Trend Continues In Mexico

Canada recently decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. Now Mexico is going even further:

Mexico's president will approve a law that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and other drugs to concentrate on fighting violent narco gangs, the government said on Tuesday. . . . Under the law, police will not penalize people for possessing up to 5 grams of marijuana, 5 grams of opium, 25 milligrams of heroin. Nor does the law penalize possession of 500 milligrams of cocaine -- enough for a few lines.

The legal changes will also decriminalize the possession of limited quantities of LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, amphetamines, ecstasy and peyote -- a psychotropic cactus found in Mexico's northern deserts.


Meanwhile, the U.S. drug czar was in Colorado yesterday to urge us here not to follow in the footsteps of our Canadian and Mexican neighbors. Denver recently passed a law ending the criminal status of possession of small amounts of marijuana under city ordinances, and an issue to do the same for state criminal statutes may face voters in the fall. Yet, the Bush Administration thinks that the alleged marijuana epidemic is one of our nation's the most pressing concerns.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I think this is the stupidest move done by anybody since the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the 40's. How do you allow for your own people to harm themselves while you watch on the sidelines? This will make the drug war in the US and elsewhere harder to fight now since drug cartels will gain more power.