Mexico bill decriminalizes drugs

[Radio_Guy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060428/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_mexico_drugs_1

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Owning 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 the Congress.

Police will not penalise people for possessing up to 5 grams of marijuana, 5 grams of opium, 25 milligrams of heroin or 500 milligrams of cocaine, under a bill passed by senators late on Thursday and earlier approved by the lower house.

<snip>

Our Congress could learn a lot from Mexico.

[Botany]

1. Zas!

Adonde esta el mercado de la marijuana?

[VirtualChicano]

6. Norte Califafornia

Humbolt County

hahahaha

Aver si los Norte Americanos se pondran ha vender la mota ha los Mexicanos!

hahahaha

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Sin Semilla

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Botany]

16. mi gusto mucho y Yo voy el mexico hora miso

cuánto es la marijuana roja del pelo?

Yo soy tonto gringo, que lasitma!

[VirtualChicano]

22. Ummm, Sepa LoL

No ha quemado un leño desde 1974

hehehe

[Botany]

23. Porque amigo de mio?

[IA_Seth]

25. My best attempt...

¿Oye ahora, ningún hablar en el código por aquí. ...you no ha oído? El arbusto dice no a español.

And that comes from a translation site..

[Mythsaje]

2. Wow.

Now THIS is news. I forecast big trouble around the border.

[Warpy]

5. The drug war has been a bigger disaster for them

than it has been for us and has led to incredible corruption at all levels of their government, their police and their military.

This is a step in the right direction. Send the drug war back to the US until we get so sick of it we start throwing Congress out of office to get rid ot it.

[Mythsaje]

13. Ain't been good for corruption

on our side either.

[0007]

3. Holy shit, how hip is that. Are police going walk around with

a set of scales?

[toymachines]

32. they do in SOcal

Friend of mine got caught with an eighth, the cop went back to the car, weighed it, and then came back and let us go without even a ticket. He even made the point of thanking us for the herbs... just the thought of that cop smoking our shit pisses me off.

[Poll_Blind]

4. What was that? I missed it. Running to the car for a drive down to TJ!

PB

[ChairmanAgnostic]

7. the whole world is proving to be more civilized and aware than the USA.

a wonderful, thoughtful and appropriate decision.

While the Shrubistas continue their attack on medical marijuana.

[VirtualChicano]

17. Unfortunately

i am affraid you are correct.

i love my country so much, you guys might bust a gut if you only knew how much.

but im 46 and ive been told to go back to mexicali since i was 5.

off topic, i know, but i refuse to live 10 more years a dupe of the "Americans."

[Vidar]

8. Good show, Mexico.

[Lisa0825]

9. I once shared a joint with a former Mexican congresswoman.

I was dating her brother at the time. He called marijuana the "fifth food group." :smoke:

[LostinVA]

10. Totally and completely sensible...

And, that leaves the prisons for REAL criminals: rapists, murderers, etc.

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. Republicans, Talibangelicals and other religious extremists...

Just adding a few that you missed. :hi:

[LostinVA]

19. Thanks! I knew I was forgetting something....

[ixion]

12. one more good reason to move south

seems the gov'ts down south are as tired of the so-called War on Drugs as we are.

[enid602]

14. Mexico

I certainly am in favor of decriminalization, but one cannot deny that drugs have turned Mexico City into one of the most violent and grim cities in the world. I remember partying on Insurgentes and taking subways 'til the wee hours back in the eighties. No longer. Mexican officials have long contended that their drug industry is caused by the huge demand on the US side of the border. Be that as it may, Mexican civilization has forever been changed by the face of drugs. The Mexican government can keep the lid on things (most of the time) in seaside resorts, but traveling to most Mexican cities is no longer considered wise. I would hope that Mexico's decriminalization is not accompanied by an even less diligent effort to control the drug industry.

[VirtualChicano]

18. i agree somewhat

but i travel all over mexico all the time, and i feel safe.

"American" demand for drugs has morally and ethically corrupted Mexico.

[redqueen]

21. Decriminializing them is a step in the right direction.

If they were fully legal, the thugs would be out of business.


Why won't we translate the lessons we learned during prohibition to the failed war on drugs?

Oh, for that day...

:party:

[Jack_DeLeon]

28. Drugs didnt do that, Prohibition did...

but one cannot deny that drugs have turned Mexico City into one of the most violent and grim cities in the world.

People dont kill each other for drugs, they kill each other for because the drugs are worth alot of money.

Prohibition makes drugs so valuable and makes crime so profitable.

[Toots]

46. one cannot deny that drugs have turned Mexico City into one of the most vi

One can most certainly deny any such thing. It is not drugs that have done that but the draconian laws against them. Just as alcohol did during prohibition. It wasn't alcohol but the prohibition that created Al Capone and his gang of thugs which are now currently in power in the USA. Just as it isn't drugs per se that cause the problems. If that were the case Holland would be the most violent place in the world....

[VirtualChicano]

15. Drugs are an "American" problem

Drugs were legal here in the U.S. up until some xenophobic politicians decided to blame urban decay and crime on foreigners.

The book "Miracles Happen" explains how the criminalization of what amounts to a medical problem came about.

I do not have the ISBN but here ia a link to the authors, the same guys who started "Narcoticos Anonymos."

http://libreopinion.com/members/vicius/

..................................................

Of course, Mexicans have drug problems too. But what they do not have is "law enforcement" of a different race being paid to arrest them at random.

[VirtualChicano]

20. Wrong link

sorry, try this one

http://www.na.org/catalog/products.htm

LoL

[madmark]

24. good

[Poll_Blind]

26. Kick! n/t

PB

[Jack_DeLeon]

27. Thats great news...

Prohibition has been a failure and its good that people are finally coming to thier senses about this waste of resources.

You cannot stop capitalism or human nature. If alot of people want a product others will be willing to supply it for the right price.

Prohibition only increases crime and makes it profitiable for criminals.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

29. 500mg of cocaine?

That's nothing.

[DrBloodmoney]

30. time to start learning from Mexico

I ending the "war on people" would immigrate here.

[Canuckistanian]

31. Hey! How come Mexico gets to do this?

Whenever we try to decriminalize marijuana, we're told that "powerful American influences" prevent us from doing it.

What's Mexico's secret?

And who is Mexico Bill?

[The Backlash Cometh]

33. Now we'll have reverse immigration and it will be the Americans

who will be illegal. See? Things worked out, afteall.

[beyond_the_pale]

34. I always thought I might spend my gold(en) years in Mexico (NT)

[Poll_Blind]

35. Kick! n/t

PB

[lostinacause]

36. Oh great more lives lost to drugs. I'm amazed so many people here support

policies such as this especially when so called "hard" drugs are involved.

[Jack_DeLeon]

49. Free will...

if someone wants to ruin thier own life that should be thier choice.

I dont want my government wasting billions and turning America into a police state just to protect people from themselves.

The Drug war cannot be won, you cannot stop capitalism. If people want something there will be others willing ot supply it.

[DoYouEverWonder]

37. Mexico Votes to Decriminalize Cocaine, Pot

April 29, 2006

MEXICO CITY - Mexicans would be allowed to possess small amounts of cocaine, heroin, even ecstasy for their personal use under a bill approved by lawmakers that some worry could prove to be a lure to young Americans.

The bill now only needs President Vicente Fox's signature to become law and that does not appear to be an obstacle. His office said that decriminalizing drugs will free up police to focus on major dealers.

"This law gives police and prosecutors better legal tools to combat drug crimes that do so much damage to our youth and children," said Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar.

The Senate approved the bill Friday in the final hours of its closing session. Mexico's lower house had already endorsed the legislation.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060429/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/mexico_drugs;_ylt=A9FJqZIDPFNETGwBwQqs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--


I expect Mexico will see a big increase in tourism if this new law gets enacted?

[SoCalDem]

38. Peachy..

As if there were not enough things to draw underage anglos to Tijuana :eyes:

[sweetheart]

39. brilliant

proves mexico is now a more civilized nation than the US.
..
good for those teenagers leaving the barbarian hoardes
to learn that criminalizing people is uncouth.

[No Exit]

43. Rush Limbaugh and Noelle Bush Spotted on Luxury Jet Headed for Tijuana

Okay, I made that up.

But... anyone wanna take odds on where El Scumbo and his gal pal Daryn Kagan will book their next luxury vacation? (Amsterdam is SO 20th century!)

[rfkrfk]

40. Europe will have to follow suit

or their tourist trade will suffer

[rodeodance]

42. umm..

[rodeodance]

41. says Mexican police less likely to be bribed now.

"It's not by legalizing the possession or use of drugs that drug trafficking is going to be combatted," the bishop told reporters, "and that's why the government should be cautious about implementing this measure."

The law comes at a time of heightened tensions over a U.S. proposal for immigration reform, including legalization of many of America's estimated 11 million undocumented migrants.

A demonstration by thousands of Mexican workers Friday to promote union solidarity turned into a protest against America's vast influence on the nation's economy, with many protesters saying they will take part in a boycott of U.S. products next week. The proposed boycott is timed to coincide with Monday's "Day Without Immigrants" protest in the U.S., aimed at pushing Congress to approve the immigration reform.

Ethan Nadelmann, director of the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance, said Mexico's bill removed "a huge opportunity for low-level police corruption." Mexican police often release people detained for minor drug possession, in exchange for bribes.

[rodeodance]

44. Reuters Mexico to decriminalize pot

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060429/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_mexico_drugs;_ylt=AgHye1Z08Y95aZSmrgEHJSx0bBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--

Mexico to decriminalize pot

By Noel Randewich Sat Apr 29, 1:23 AM ET

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - 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.
ADVERTISEMENT

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."

[rodeodance]

45. says DC was shocked:

....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.

[sweetheart]

47. mexico could draw some real talent

from the US with this... a reverse immigration of
32 million cannabis smokers who are sick of a nazi
police state.... :-) *suck*

[Raine]

48. Cheers to Mexico

glad that they are doing what is right for them,drugs are an American problem. The rest of the World should not have to do the America's bidding especially when the US could care less about how global warming effects all the World.