Mexico Senate OKs bill to legalize drug possession

Mexico Senate OKs bill to legalize drug possession
Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:04pm EDT

MEXICO CITY, April 28 (Reuters) - Mexico's Senate approved a bill on Tuesday decriminalizing possession of small amounts of narcotics for personal use, in order to free resources to fight violent drug cartels.

The bill, proposed by conservative President Felipe Calderon, would make it legal to carry up to 5 grams (0.18 ounces) of marijuana, 500 milligrams (0.018 ounces) of cocaine and tiny quantities of other drugs such as heroin and methamphetamines.

Mexico's Congress passed a similar proposal in 2006 but the bill was vetoed by Calderon's predecessor Vicente Fox, under pressure from the United States, which said it would increase drug abuse, but now is worried by the drug-related violence along its border.

Calderon has staked his presidency on curtailing the escalating violence between rival drug gangs as they fight over smuggling routes to the United States, with violence spilling into U.S. cities like Phoenix and Tucson.

Calderon was praised by U.S. President Barack Obama this month for his army crackdown in a visit to the Mexican capital and Washington is sending more agents to its side of the border to curb the flow of guns and cash to the cartels.

Drug violence has killed 2,000 people this year across Mexico after 6,300 deaths in 2008.

The bill, which needs to be approved by the lower house, also allows Mexican states to convict small-time drug dealers, no longer making it a federal crime to peddle drugs. Drug dealers are rarely convicted in Mexico as federal courts are saturated with bigger cases and local judges cannot interfere.

Mexico's Congress convenes for a final session before its recess on Thursday but may call an extraordinary session given the outbreak of deadly swine flu in the country that has forced lawmakers to hold sessions behind closed doors to prevent further contagion. (Reporting by Miguel Angel Gutierrez, editing by Patricia Zengerle)

Lets see if the U.S. forces thier hand this time. If they legalize drugs and it works, that will help us out in the states for sure!!! If we do pressure them to not pass this-------- I guess that will give us an idea of how Obama is going to handle it over here as well.. I can hardly wait!!!!!:stoned:

Cool. They're finally getting smart.

this is interesting, thanks for posting it. this is about State's Rights, rights of the Mexican States to control their jurisdiction and freeing up the Federal Gov't for bigger, more important tasks. If only we could get our guys here in the US to follow suite. :jointsmile:

This bill passed the Senate and is supported by the President, I can't imagine the lower house not acting and making this law. This will be interesting watching the Obama/Calderon interaction on this, as compared to Bush/Fox a few years back.

Mexico passes bill on small-scale drugs possession
(Reuters)
2 May 2009
MEXICO CITY - Mexicoâ??s Congress has passed a bill decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of drugs, from marijuana to methamphetamine, as President Felipe Calderon tries to focus on catching traffickers.

The bill, proposed by Calderon after an attempt by the previous government at a similar bill came under fire in the United States, would make it legal to carry up to 5 grams (0.18 ounces) of marijuana, 500 milligrams (0.018 ounces) of cocaine and tiny quantities heroin and methamphetamines.

The lower house of deputies passed the bill late on Thursday. It already has been approved by the Senate and is expected to be signed into law by Calderon in the days ahead.

Mexicoâ??s Congress passed a similar proposal in 2006 but the bill was vetoed by Calderonâ??s predecessor, Vicente Fox, after Washington said it would increase drug abuse.

The United States recently pledged stronger backing for Calderonâ??s army-led war on drug cartels, whose turf wars have killed some 2,000 people so far this year in Mexico, as the drug violence is starting to seep over the border.

The new bill also allows Mexican states to convict small-time drug dealers, no longer making it a federal crime to peddle narcotics, a move that should speed up those cases.

U.S. President Barack Obama praised Calderonâ??s drug war efforts in a visit to Mexico last month and promised more agents and southbound border controls to curb the flow of guns and cash to the cartels.

I was sad to see they allowed any amount of hard drugs there ... but, that would severely limit Mexico's GNP ... :smokin:

This is excellent. Finally, something approaching sensible drug policy in North America. Hopefully the success it yields will shut up the family values preachers north of the border.

mexican drugs are all disgusting

American tourism is going to greatly increase into Mexico once the killing stops. Don't forget your passport or enhanced ID before you go or they won't let you back in!!!!! :jointsmile:

I can only wonder why the mainstream media hasn't picked up on this since they made the violence so news worthy? Could it be because it reflects negatively on our legislators since they refuse to get the job done. We are a drug society. Drugs are pushed on us every day in newspapers, magazines, and TV by big pharma and the majority have side effects. Bad side effects. And we cannabis people are the evil ones. :D :smokin: