Pubdate: Sat, 29 Apr 2006 Source: East Valley Tribune (AZ) Page: Front Page, Top of Page Copyright: 2006 East Valley Tribune. Contact: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2708 Author: Mark Stevenson, The Associated Press Cited: Drug Policy Alliance http://www.drugpolicy.org Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Mexico (Mexico) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hallucinogens.htm (Hallucinogens) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) MEXICO TRIES EASING DRUG LAWS U.S. Leery of Move to Legalize Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana MEXICO CITY - Mexico's Congress approved a bill Friday decriminalizing possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use - including cocaine and even heroin - raising potential questions about joint U.S.-Mexican anti-narcotics operations. Mexican officials hope the move will allow police to focus on large-scale trafficking operations rather than minor drug busts. The bill, passed in the early morning hours by Mexico's Senate on a 53-26 vote with one abstention, has already been approved in the Lower House of Congress and was sent to President Vicente Fox for his signature. "The presidency congratulates the Congress for approving the reforms," said presidential 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." The bill also stiffens penalties for trafficking and possession of drugs - even small quantities - by government employees or near schools, and maintains criminal penalties for drug sales. U.S. officials scrambled to come up with a response to the Mexican move. Janelle Hironimus, a spokeswoman at U.S. State Department, said "preliminary information from Mexican legislative sources indicates that the intent of the draft legislation is to clarify the meaning of 'small amounts' of drugs for personal use as stated in current Mexican law." One U.S. diplomat who requested anonymity said "we're still studying the legislation, but any effort to decriminalize illegal drugs would not be helpful." Oscar Aguilar, a Mexico City political analyst, said Fox appeared almost certain to sign the law - his office proposed it, and his party supports it - and that he had apparently been betting that it wouldn't draw much notice. "That's probably why they (the Senate) passed it the way they did, in the closing hours of the final session," Aguilar said. "He's going to sign it . . . he's not going to abandon his party two months before the (presidential) election." Current Mexican law leaves 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." But the current exemption isn't automatic. The new bill drops the "addict" requirement, automatically allows any "consumers" to have drugs, and sets out specific allowable quantities. Mexican officials refused repeated requests for comment. The move could have an impact on the two countries' cooperation in the war on drugs - or the vast numbers of vacationing students who visit Mexico. "No charges will be brought against . . . addicts or consumers who are found in possession of any narcotic for personal use," according to the Senate bill, which also lays out allowable quantities for a large array of other drugs, including LSD, MDA, MDMA (ecstasy, about two pills' worth), and amphetamines. Some of the amounts are eye-popping: Mexicans would be allowed to posses 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of peyote, the button-sized hallucinogenic cactus used in some native Indian religious ceremonies. Mexican officials declined to explain how the law would work - including whether drug use in public would be tolerated, or discouraged by other means. The law was defended by Mexican legislators - and greeted with glee by U.S. legalization advocates. "We can't close our eyes to this reality," said Sen. Jorge Zermeno, of Fox's conservative National Action Party. "We cannot continue to fill our jails with people who have addictions." Ethan Nadelmann, director of the New York based Drug Policy Alliance, described the bill as "a very good move," saying it removed "a huge opportunity for low level police corruption." In Mexico, police often release people detained for minor drug possession, in exchange for bribes. Selling all these drugs would remain illegal under the proposed law, unlike the Netherlands, where the sale of marijuana for medical use is legal and it can be bought with a prescription in pharmacies. While Dutch authorities look the other way regarding the open sale of cannabis in designated coffee shops - something Mexican police seem unlikely to do - the Dutch have zero tolerance for heroin and cocaine. In both countries, commercial growing of marijuana is outlawed. In Colombia, a 1994 court ruling decriminalized personal possession of small amounts of cocaine, heroin and other drugs. The effects could be significant, given that Mexico is rapidly becoming a drugconsuming nation as well as a shipment point for traffickers, and given the number of U.S. students who flock to border cities or resorts like Cancun and Acapulco on vacation. "This is going to increase addictions in Mexico," said Ulisis Bon, a drug treatment expert in Tijuana, where heroin use is rampant. "A lot of Americans already come here to buy medications they can't get up there. . . . Just imagine, with heroin." [sidebar - printed in the top left corner of the front page] IN SMALL AMOUNTS Bill would legalize possession of: 25 milligrams of heroin. 5 grams of marijuana (about one-fifth of an ounce, or about four joints). 0.5 grams of cocaine - the equivalent of about four "lines" or half the standard street-sale quantity. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake