Pubdate: Fri, 22 Apr 2016
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2016 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28

DECRIMINALIZED POT LIMIT COULD BE RAISED

President Enrique Pena Nieto said Thursday he will ask Mexico's 
Congress to raise the limit on decriminalized marijuana for personal 
use to 28 grams, or about one ounce. Currently, only possession of 
five grams, or less than a fifth of an ounce, is exempt from 
prosecution. "This means that consumption would no longer be 
criminalized," Pena Nieto said. Possession of larger amounts would 
still be punishable under drug trafficking laws. Pena Nieto said the 
"so-called war on drugs" has caused huge suffering in Mexico, and 
that instead of prosecuting drug consumers, the country should be 
focused on fighting criminals. The move comes after Mexico's Supreme 
Court approved an appeal by four people to allow them to grow and 
possess marijuana for personal use. That helped launch a national 
debate on marijuana policy.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom