cannabisnews.com: Mexico To Decriminalize Some Drugs





Mexico To Decriminalize Some Drugs
Posted by CN Staff on April 29, 2006 at 13:21:33 PT
By Noel Randewich
Source: Reuters
Mexico City -- Possessing marijuana, cocaine and even heroin will no longer be a crime in Mexico if they are in small amounts for personal use under new reforms passed by Congress that quickly drew U.S. criticism.The measure given final passage 53-26 by senators in a late night session on Thursday is aimed at letting police focus on their battle against major drug dealers, 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.He said the reforms, which were proposed by the government and approved earlier this week by the lower house of Congress, made laws against major traffickers "more severe."The legislation came as a shock 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."I would say any law that decriminalizes dangerous drugs is not very helpful," said Judith Bryan, spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. "Drugs are dangerous. We don't think it is the appropriate way to go."She said U.S. officials were still studying the reforms, under which 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.Fox has been seen as a loyal ally of the United States in the war on drugs, but the reforms could create new tensions.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 said. 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.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."Additional reporting by Anahi Rama Source: Reuters (Wire)Author: Noel RandewichPublished: April 29, 2006Copyright: 2006 Reuters Related Article:Mexico Proposes Decriminalizing Pot & Cocainehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21789.shtmlCannabisNews Justice Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/justice.shtml
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Comment #28 posted by FoM on April 30, 2006 at 19:40:27 PT
Whig
You will be on the other side of the country but CSNY will perform on July 25th and I believe this is near San Franscico.http://www.chroniclepavilion.com/schedule.html
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Comment #27 posted by whig on April 30, 2006 at 18:31:06 PT
CSNY
Of course they're coming to a venue within an hour of here, when we'll have moved clear across the country.
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on April 30, 2006 at 13:41:34 PT
Toker00
I'm looking forward to this too. I wish we could have a big gathering and all go to see CSNY. It would be something else.
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Comment #25 posted by Toker00 on April 30, 2006 at 13:02:30 PT
Sam Adams, FoM
Ditto. Just did that this morning, Sam. ASA. I haven't had a chance to use the great protest signs they sent me. Since I live in Southeast Texas, half the signs are in Spanish. I can't wait to break them out. I want to do an overpass drop, too. Getting anxious for protests, again. I must be getting back to NORML. :)Thanks, FoM! This will be so cool! Just let me know how much they are. I will be buying LWW soon. I'm starting to feel good about feeling like a Hippie, again! Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW! 
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Comment #24 posted by global_warming on April 30, 2006 at 12:36:21 PT
re:donations
its important to keep track,as the wall come's tumbling down,
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Comment #23 posted by Sam Adams on April 30, 2006 at 11:52:21 PT
donations
re: giving money - don't forget about Americans for Safe Access in California. If you're into medical marijuana, you couldn't donate to a better group. A little leaner and meaner than the national groups, IMO.MPP has over 25 staff now, it's hard to imagine what they're all doing. I don't see a quantum leap in productivity compared to 5 years ago. Meanwhile, ASA seems to crank out an enormous amount of work that's increasing dramatically every year. Not to demean the excellent work of MPP; it's just that their goals and short-term strategy is a little more difficult to discern than a group like ASA.I guess I'm still a little mad at MPP for bailing in Arkansas a couple years ago. They were 75% of the way to geting a med. MJ referendum on the ballot that surely would have won, then they bailed out, wasting all the funds already spent.
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on April 30, 2006 at 10:43:52 PT
Toker00
The tickets for the 29th only go on sale on the 5th of May. There is a little time to figure it out. I have friends that are Neil fans and if I need help they will help me.PS: I absolutely love this new album. I am listening to Roger and Out right now. What a simple yet beautiful sad song.
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on April 30, 2006 at 10:33:16 PT
Toker00
Don't tell anyone but you can download it here. I already ordered my copy from Amazon.com.
LWW
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on April 30, 2006 at 10:29:45 PT
Toker00
No don't worry. Once I know if you want to come I will order the tickets. 
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on April 30, 2006 at 10:23:28 PT
Toker00
I'll let you know when the tickets become available. Bookmark this web site to keep informed. I want to see both concerts but the last show of the tour will be unbelievable in PA. It is a Sunday and the 29th of August is a Tuesday so September would be better I think. Have you heard the new album? I have the stream on my web site. This is a protest album like I only dreamed for. So people sing along Stills ( I think it was Stills ) said they will have the words on two screens so we can sing along. How cool is that! God is good.http://www.csny.com/
Neil Young: Living With War
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Comment #18 posted by Toker00 on April 30, 2006 at 10:21:55 PT
Going fast!
Looks like there are only 31 Lawn Tickets available. I will try to get one. Haven't ordered tickets online before. I better hurry.Toke. 
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Comment #17 posted by Toker00 on April 30, 2006 at 10:15:17 PT
Seriously, FoM.
I would like that. Plenty of time to ask for vacation. Plenty of time to put back for it. Please, thank you for any info on it. I've always wanted to see all of these guys. Put me in coach! Lawn tickets would be great with me, too. It's the Essence I'd be there for. The Brotherhood of Man. And the meeting of the FoM.Toke.
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on April 30, 2006 at 08:29:18 PT
Off Topic: Toker00
Off topic but CSNY will be in our area August 29 and Septemeber 10th. I will let you know the price of tickets once they are available if you want to come this far to go to a concert. We hope to go to both of them but we will be buying tickets for the lawn because of the high price of tickets. http://pollstar.com/tour/searchall.pl?By=Artist&Content=CSNY&PSKey=Y
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Comment #15 posted by Toker00 on April 30, 2006 at 08:20:56 PT
Demonizing Drugs
THAT is the problem. I read someone say "Drugs are not bad. That's not the problem. Drugs are Great. That's the problem." Or something to that order. And that is right. They satisfy a natural urge to self-medicate. Nothing wrong with that. You are also taught, and at a very young age, "Everything in Moderation." Even drugs. Lust of the Flesh must be moderated. You can use them to treat, heal, or, if you are weak and cannot moderate your intake, you can MISUSE them. I like that better than ABUSE them. Sounds like you are beating your drugs or something. That's mean.Essentially, they are Demonizing, or BANNING, the natural Gifts From God. Why? So they can continue their control, and increase their control, over humanity. When they can COMPLETELY control what we put in our bodies, then they can COMPLETELY control us with their Mind Control Substances. Then we would be mindless little slaves. THAT is what they WANT. COMPLETE DOMINATION OF THE CREATIONS OF GOD.The source of Drugs is not Dealers. The source of Drugs is God. Man can creat nothing but from what God has already created. God has already instructed us in how to use his creations. Moderately, Reasonably. Nothing Prohibited, or Controlled by Lucifer inspired Men. Peace and worry not. CANNABIS PROHIBITION IS ENDING. The fruitless desire for Man to Govern without God, is ending. God, come.Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW!
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Comment #14 posted by Christen-Mitchell on April 30, 2006 at 05:46:52 PT:
What Kind of LEAP?
LEAP made their tour through Boulder a year ago. I read the press before a NORML meet. The first point they made in the article was that "Drug dealers are the most evil people in this country". I could not attend the meeting because of rage.Bar tenders, store owners and cigarette sellers aren't demonized. If they want to start their proposal by vilifying dealers they are playing into the ignorance of the drug warriors. So that means that until prohibition ends they have a target for ignorance they can all agree on. Suppliers of the amazingly popular marijuana. This doesn't seem antiprohibitionist to me.Incredibly the NORML chapter carried on a campaign of villification of dealers. Huh? Thus Hemptopia crystalized.LEAP's a great idea, but how does thier starting premise resolve anything. The Mexican Decrim is a great start, but their goal is to eliminate dealers.These are steps forward, let's how many we go back.
Hemptopia: Towards Our Greener Future
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Comment #13 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on April 30, 2006 at 04:52:26 PT
Donations (Re: Comment #3)
I've given money to NORML and MPP in the past, but after Steve Tuck's posts a few months back, this year I've thought twice. He said, during his ordeal, that he had no help from either group. MPP even issued a press release using his story to ask for donations. Steve posted here at that time and was very upset with MPP over this. So this year, I've put NORML and MPP on a lower priority and decided to send money first to LEAP - even without Steve's comments, LEAP seems to be changing minds faster than any other reform organization. And they're changing minds of people many thought would never see the light.Ideally I'd send them all a million bucks each month, but in the real world we have finite resourced and must decide how best to allocate them. (Hmm, that sounds familiar...)
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Comment #12 posted by Hope on April 30, 2006 at 04:00:54 PT
Healed and Restored
Let me make myself perfectly clear. I mean that their (the drug warriors) spirits and souls, their consciences, need to be "restored". Not restored to more drug war zeal and cruelty...but "restored", as in, made "whole" and "well" again. Like David said to his God. "Restore unto me, my soul!""Restore to me the joy of my salvation!"
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Comment #11 posted by Hope on April 30, 2006 at 03:51:48 PT
I nearly barf
Just thinking about it. I hope I don't have ulcers again.
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Comment #10 posted by Hope on April 30, 2006 at 03:50:48 PT
Frowning
 "....through our spirit of fighting drug dealing, we don't end up legalizing,"What?Without legalizing sources, they haven't done a lot of good.The "spirt" of a drug warrior is something that needs to be healed and restored.
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Comment #9 posted by afterburner on April 30, 2006 at 00:27:06 PT
Prohibitonist Blacklash Plants Seeds of Doubt&Fear
{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."}What? Brainwashing? Extermination? Hector, what are *you* drinking?
LEAP
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Comment #8 posted by rchandar on April 29, 2006 at 21:12:52 PT:
it's actually not a really big deal...
...i mean Colombia, for example, has less than 20 grams legalized, and dealers can avoid prosecution by carrying small amounts. It seems more in line with liberal drug policies in the whole of South America. Fox for that matter once said early in his presidency that "we should legalize all drugs, but then everybody has to do it," and OAS has frequently criticized the US policy. But I still think this is great news for tourists and foreign nationals. Some of the element of fear, of danger when travelling, may be canceled out by this measure. The idea of ending up in some prison gulag in Northern Mexico might disappear for many, and that joint you smoke may seem less dangerous too.--rchandar
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on April 29, 2006 at 19:11:56 PT
AP: U.S. Cautious on Mexico Drug Measure 
By Will Weissert, The Associated PressApril 29, 2006MEXICO CITY — The United States reacted cautiously on Saturday to a Mexican measure that would make it legal to carry small amounts of cocaine, heroin and other drugs for personal use.News of the decriminalization did not make the front pages of any major Mexico City newspaper, nor was it discussed in editorials. It was slightly better publicized in the north of the country, where turf wars between rival drugs gangs have caused hundreds of killings along the Mexico-U.S. border, but was still overshadowed by news about immigration.President Vicente Fox has yet to sign the bill, which would eliminate penalties for those caught with small amounts of some drugs, but his office has applauded it.Mexican lawmakers have said the bill will let authorities focus on major drug traffickers and not clutter prisons with small-time offenders.U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Judith Bryan said Saturday the measure could actually make it easier to prosecute drug crimes because it attempts to "precisely specify the amount of narcotics in possession of a suspect to allow a criminal prosecution.""Preliminary information from Mexican legislative sources indicates that the intent of the draft legislation is to clarify the 'small amounts' of drugs for personal use as stated in current Mexican law," she said.Mexican law already left open the possibility of dropping charges against people caught with drugs if they are considered addicts and if "the amount is the quantity necessary for personal use." The new bill drops the "addict" requirement _ automatically letting any "consumers" have drugs _ and sets out specific allowable quantities.In Mexico City's stylish Zona Rosa neighborhood, Mexicans and tourists alike were surprised to hear it could soon be legal to carry small amounts of drugs.Drug violence "will drop because there will be less pressure on the people who consume drugs," said Francisco Garrido, who was selling orange juice at a sidewalk stall.But Berta Perez, an antique store owner, worried that drug sales would bring young budget travelers and spook away well-heeled tourists.If signed by Fox, purchasing drugs "would be like buying a cigarette on the street," she said.Washington has long praised the Fox administration for its anti-drug efforts.Since the president took office in December 2000, several key drug lords have been captured, including Benjamin Arellano Felix, the suspected operations chief of a Tijuana-based drug gang bearing his family's name, and Osiel Cardenas, the accused head of the Gulf cartel, thought mainly to operate along Mexico's border with Texas.Yet drug addiction is growing in Mexico, especially in border cities like Tijuana.John Morgan, a retired school psychologist visiting Mexico City from Grand Junction, Colo., said it makes sense for the country to decriminalize marijuana _ but that harder drugs maybe should not be included."We have put people in jails for years for marijuana, something that is probably less harmful than alcohol," he said. "But the list here is a little too global, there are several classes of drugs which are quite harmful."___Associated Press writer Alan Clendenning contributed to this report.Copyright: 2005 Associated Press
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Comment #6 posted by b4daylight on April 29, 2006 at 18:31:29 PT
Interesting
This came pretty fast. I always like visiting Mexico, and I like being there Neighboor. It is really weird sitting in what was once Mexico. Thank you. 
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Comment #5 posted by Christen-Mitchell on April 29, 2006 at 18:19:40 PT:
"All The News We Choose"
If someone ever thinks that the news media isn't controled or has its own agenda then pay attention to the Mexican Government's Decriminalization. NBC has nothing on its site. CBS, who lost me in 1999 when they didn't cover Maine's Medical Marijuana decision, has no mention. CNN is in the dark.Fox simply lists decrimed drug amounts.ABC above all tells the entire story. ABC has a new viewer.Doesn't this only happen in fascist countrys?And by the way, in a free country one should be able to sing praises of the land in any language one wants.CANNABEM LIBEREMUS - Happy Marching May 6th!
Hemptopia: Towards Our Greener Future
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Comment #4 posted by Taylor121 on April 29, 2006 at 15:07:51 PT
Cannabis found in defense secretary home
Cannabis resin has been found at the Scottish home of the defence secretary John Reid, it emerged today.Police are to take no action over the discovery, made during a routine security sweep of the property. The amount was described as "minuscule", weighing less than one gram with a street value of 85p.Sources close to Mr Reid said the cannabis was found in a guest area of his home, and could have been there for up to 20 years. The discovery is thought to have been made several days ago, but was only made public today.
*snip*
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,,1764324,00.html
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Comment #3 posted by Taylor121 on April 29, 2006 at 14:59:58 PT
Send Letters to Congress
Send a letter explaining why the FDA is wrong:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=29834&ms=FDAMedMj042706-hpDonate to reform efforts:MPP- https://www.kintera.org/site/c.hjJZJgMOIoE/b.980423/k.AA6C/MPP_Donation/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=hjJZJgMOIoE&b=980423&en=9dJBIGNnF8JxGFPkG9LAKFOlHfKRL0MuHfJKKPPoHcKNKPNsFrHNORML- https://secure.norml.org/join/Without funding these organizations, we have no voice. Sitting around and doing nothing will not make marijuana anymore legal. The only way we can effectively change the law is if we are proactively doing something about it. An easy way to help change the law is to fund the organizations that are vocal in the media, lobby our government officials, and run ballot intiatives all the while educating the public about the need to legalize this substance.If you haven't bothered donating to NORML or the MPP, you really aren't doing much to make a positive contribution for reforming the laws. 
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on April 29, 2006 at 14:40:55 PT
Endangered Racket
The legislation came as a shock 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.Actually, Washington counts on tons of illicit drugs coming up from Mexico. To the drug warriors it justifies billions of dollars to fund the police state. I believe some of the neo-con drug warriors saw their little racket coming to an end and that's why they needed the "war on terror" which was born on 9/11. THE WAY OUT...What You Won't See in Flight 93, the Film:
http://www.counterpunch.org/ridgeway04282006.htmlTHE MID-AIR EXPLOSION ON FLIGHT 93:
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/f93midair.phpUnited Flight 93's Rightwing ad campaign:
http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/evan/35613
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Comment #1 posted by MaRkAyNe on April 29, 2006 at 14:00:04 PT
What the U.S. Can't See.
It is glorious and frightening to hear that Mexico is becoming MORE OF A DEMOCRACY and defending it's citizens rights more than the United States. Hello U.S. government- Your people don't support making criminals out of drug users either. We often view Mexico as poor and behind the times, and our government immediately criticized this decrim. plan saying it couldn't possibly help anything. Wake up America. Your people want their rights back too.. I pray that their government will be able to show the U.S. that our policy of absolute intolerance is NOT the only way. I would rather live poor in a country with freedom (Ie. the U.S. when it began) than under the corrupt, blind, intolerant regime that has taken over this country. America needs A change.  
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