Mexico legalizes small drug possession

[your_adress_here 11]

MEXICO CITY (AP) —

Mexico

enacted a controversial law on Thursday decriminalizing possession of small amounts of

marijuana

, cocaine, heroin and other drugs while encouraging government-financed treatment for drug dependency free of charge.

The law sets out maximum “personal use” amounts for drugs, also including LSD and methamphetamine. People detained with those quantities will no longer face criminal prosecution; the law goes into effect on Friday.

Anyone caught with drug amounts under the personal-use limit will be encouraged to seek treatment, and for those caught a third time treatment is mandatory — although no penalties for noncompliance are specified.

Mexican authorities said the change only recognized the longstanding practice here of not prosecuting people caught with small amounts of drugs.

The maximum amount of marijuana considered to be for “personal use” under the new law is 5 grams — the equivalent of about four marijuana cigarettes. Other limits are half a gram of cocaine, 50 milligrams of heroin, 40 milligrams for methamphetamine and 0.015 milligrams of LSD.

President

Felipe Calderón

waited months before approving the law.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/world/americas/21mexico.html

Definitely a step in the right direction. This will help keep innocent people out of jail.

[your_adress_here 11]

MEXICO CITY (AP) —

Mexico

enacted a controversial law on Thursday decriminalizing possession of small amounts of

marijuana

, cocaine, heroin and other drugs while encouraging government-financed treatment for drug dependency free of charge.

The law sets out maximum “personal use” amounts for drugs, also including LSD and methamphetamine. People detained with those quantities will no longer face criminal prosecution; the law goes into effect on Friday.

Anyone caught with drug amounts under the personal-use limit will be encouraged to seek treatment, and for those caught a third time treatment is mandatory — although no penalties for noncompliance are specified.

Mexican authorities said the change only recognized the longstanding practice here of not prosecuting people caught with small amounts of drugs.

The maximum amount of marijuana considered to be for “personal use” under the new law is 5 grams — the equivalent of about four marijuana cigarettes. Other limits are half a gram of cocaine, 50 milligrams of heroin, 40 milligrams for methamphetamine and 0.015 milligrams of LSD.

President

Felipe Calderón

waited months before approving the law.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/world/americas/21mexico.html

Definitely a step in the right direction. This will help keep innocent people out of jail.

[your_adress_here 11]

MEXICO CITY (AP) —

Mexico

enacted a controversial law on Thursday decriminalizing possession of small amounts of

marijuana

, cocaine, heroin and other drugs while encouraging government-financed treatment for drug dependency free of charge.

The law sets out maximum “personal use” amounts for drugs, also including LSD and methamphetamine. People detained with those quantities will no longer face criminal prosecution; the law goes into effect on Friday.

Anyone caught with drug amounts under the personal-use limit will be encouraged to seek treatment, and for those caught a third time treatment is mandatory — although no penalties for noncompliance are specified.

Mexican authorities said the change only recognized the longstanding practice here of not prosecuting people caught with small amounts of drugs.

The maximum amount of marijuana considered to be for “personal use” under the new law is 5 grams — the equivalent of about four marijuana cigarettes. Other limits are half a gram of cocaine, 50 milligrams of heroin, 40 milligrams for methamphetamine and 0.015 milligrams of LSD.

President

Felipe Calderón

waited months before approving the law.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/world/americas/21mexico.html

Definitely a step in the right direction. This will help keep innocent people out of jail.

[Jasoncw 12,030]

Well, those drugs don't fall from the sky, they're bought from the drug cartels. Drug users are enabling the cartels, and so I don't think they're innocent.

Also, the people who use those drugs aren't flower children who just want to have psychedelic experiences and have world peace, they're troubled people who have problems.

If you ask me though, I think this is a reflection of the state of the drug war. It's so overwhelming that they're trying to reduce the scope of the war by making that amount of drugs legal. This probably frees up a lot of resources for the police and drug related agencies.

[Jasoncw 12,030]

Well, those drugs don't fall from the sky, they're bought from the drug cartels. Drug users are enabling the cartels, and so I don't think they're innocent.

Also, the people who use those drugs aren't flower children who just want to have psychedelic experiences and have world peace, they're troubled people who have problems.

If you ask me though, I think this is a reflection of the state of the drug war. It's so overwhelming that they're trying to reduce the scope of the war by making that amount of drugs legal. This probably frees up a lot of resources for the police and drug related agencies.

[Jasoncw 12,030]

Well, those drugs don't fall from the sky, they're bought from the drug cartels. Drug users are enabling the cartels, and so I don't think they're innocent.

Also, the people who use those drugs aren't flower children who just want to have psychedelic experiences and have world peace, they're troubled people who have problems.

If you ask me though, I think this is a reflection of the state of the drug war. It's so overwhelming that they're trying to reduce the scope of the war by making that amount of drugs legal. This probably frees up a lot of resources for the police and drug related agencies.

[your_adress_here 11]

Originally posted by: Jasoncw

Well, those drugs don't fall from the sky, they're bought from the drug cartels. Drug users are enabling the cartels, and so I don't think they're innocent.

quote>

The illegality of the drug creates the underground market for it.

Also, the people who use those drugs aren't flower children who just want to have psychedelic experiences and have world peace, they're troubled people who have problems.

quote>

Stereotype much?

And maybe we should be helping people with their problems instead of sending them to jail.

If you ask me though, I think this is a reflection of the state of the drug war. It's so overwhelming that they're trying to reduce the scope of the war by making that amount of drugs legal. This probably frees up a lot of resources for the police and drug related agencies.quote>

True, this is reflective of the "war on drugs". However, it is something that just doesn't work. Prohibition, throughout the history of man-kind has never worked. Making something illegal will not hamper ones desire to obtain it, if they want it.

You know your system is backwards when the government AND drug dealers want to keep drugs illegal. It just doesn't make sense!

[your_adress_here 11]

Originally posted by: Jasoncw

Well, those drugs don't fall from the sky, they're bought from the drug cartels. Drug users are enabling the cartels, and so I don't think they're innocent.

quote>

The illegality of the drug creates the underground market for it.

Also, the people who use those drugs aren't flower children who just want to have psychedelic experiences and have world peace, they're troubled people who have problems.

quote>

Stereotype much?

And maybe we should be helping people with their problems instead of sending them to jail.

If you ask me though, I think this is a reflection of the state of the drug war. It's so overwhelming that they're trying to reduce the scope of the war by making that amount of drugs legal. This probably frees up a lot of resources for the police and drug related agencies.quote>

True, this is reflective of the "war on drugs". However, it is something that just doesn't work. Prohibition, throughout the history of man-kind has never worked. Making something illegal will not hamper ones desire to obtain it, if they want it.

You know your system is backwards when the government AND drug dealers want to keep drugs illegal. It just doesn't make sense!

[your_adress_here 11]

Originally posted by: Jasoncw

Well, those drugs don't fall from the sky, they're bought from the drug cartels. Drug users are enabling the cartels, and so I don't think they're innocent.

quote>

The illegality of the drug creates the underground market for it.

Also, the people who use those drugs aren't flower children who just want to have psychedelic experiences and have world peace, they're troubled people who have problems.

quote>

Stereotype much?

And maybe we should be helping people with their problems instead of sending them to jail.

If you ask me though, I think this is a reflection of the state of the drug war. It's so overwhelming that they're trying to reduce the scope of the war by making that amount of drugs legal. This probably frees up a lot of resources for the police and drug related agencies.quote>

True, this is reflective of the "war on drugs". However, it is something that just doesn't work. Prohibition, throughout the history of man-kind has never worked. Making something illegal will not hamper ones desire to obtain it, if they want it.

You know your system is backwards when the government AND drug dealers want to keep drugs illegal. It just doesn't make sense!

[da_sim_dude 5]

Don't have much to add but I'm glad to see this in the news. Right direction indeed. I agree with what your_adress_here says.

[da_sim_dude 5]

Don't have much to add but I'm glad to see this in the news. Right direction indeed. I agree with what your_adress_here says.

[da_sim_dude 5]

Don't have much to add but I'm glad to see this in the news. Right direction indeed. I agree with what your_adress_here says.

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: Jasoncw

Well, those drugs don't fall from the sky, they're bought from the drug cartels. Drug users are enabling the cartels, and so I don't think they're innocent.quote>

Metals necessary for your computer and mobile phone don't fall out of the sky either, but are bought from dealers in countries like the Congo and other war zones in Africa. Computer users are enabling the warlords, and so I don't think they're innocent.

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: Jasoncw

Well, those drugs don't fall from the sky, they're bought from the drug cartels. Drug users are enabling the cartels, and so I don't think they're innocent.quote>

Metals necessary for your computer and mobile phone don't fall out of the sky either, but are bought from dealers in countries like the Congo and other war zones in Africa. Computer users are enabling the warlords, and so I don't think they're innocent.

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: Jasoncw

Well, those drugs don't fall from the sky, they're bought from the drug cartels. Drug users are enabling the cartels, and so I don't think they're innocent.quote>

Metals necessary for your computer and mobile phone don't fall out of the sky either, but are bought from dealers in countries like the Congo and other war zones in Africa. Computer users are enabling the warlords, and so I don't think they're innocent.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[tcx 170]

?????

This is new for me and I line in Mexico, I think is wrong but what can we do, we have the production of drugs here because the graet market for that is the US, I'm not saying that Mexican don't use drugs. I used them once and didn't like it, so my only "drug" is beer.

As long as we keep seeing that some actor or singer is in rehab for drugs we'll have people using drugs and if the way to end with the violence "between cartels" in some parts of my country is to legalize the use, well, lets do that.

It will be good that USA legalize drugs also, and stop blaming us for the problem.

sorry for my english but is hard to translate my thoughts in spanish to english.

[tcx 170]

?????

This is new for me and I line in Mexico, I think is wrong but what can we do, we have the production of drugs here because the graet market for that is the US, I'm not saying that Mexican don't use drugs. I used them once and didn't like it, so my only "drug" is beer.

As long as we keep seeing that some actor or singer is in rehab for drugs we'll have people using drugs and if the way to end with the violence "between cartels" in some parts of my country is to legalize the use, well, lets do that.

It will be good that USA legalize drugs also, and stop blaming us for the problem.

sorry for my english but is hard to translate my thoughts in spanish to english.

[tcx 170]

?????

This is new for me and I line in Mexico, I think is wrong but what can we do, we have the production of drugs here because the graet market for that is the US, I'm not saying that Mexican don't use drugs. I used them once and didn't like it, so my only "drug" is beer.

As long as we keep seeing that some actor or singer is in rehab for drugs we'll have people using drugs and if the way to end with the violence "between cartels" in some parts of my country is to legalize the use, well, lets do that.

It will be good that USA legalize drugs also, and stop blaming us for the problem.

sorry for my english but is hard to translate my thoughts in spanish to english.

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

No amount of methamphetamine is safe for any community. Ask anyone from the Pacific NW, the stuff is the most insidious substance ever created. Any allowable effort to eradicate it is the only way to go, long term. Trust me on this.

Otherwise, this smells more like a political stunt rather than real reform. The amount of pot now allowable isn't even a quarter oz., I've seen people go through that much in minutes. They often had help, though.

How will it affect the power of cartels and rampant corruption? Not one bit. The cartels will still advertise for soldiers to desert their military positions for better pay (and health benefits!) through the cartels... and bring whatever weapon or weapon system you're manning at the time, they can use that too. They'll still operate shamelessly on our side of the border, we'll whine but do nothing because real border control costs too much; the status quo breathes on.

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

No amount of methamphetamine is safe for any community. Ask anyone from the Pacific NW, the stuff is the most insidious substance ever created. Any allowable effort to eradicate it is the only way to go, long term. Trust me on this.

Otherwise, this smells more like a political stunt rather than real reform. The amount of pot now allowable isn't even a quarter oz., I've seen people go through that much in minutes. They often had help, though.

How will it affect the power of cartels and rampant corruption? Not one bit. The cartels will still advertise for soldiers to desert their military positions for better pay (and health benefits!) through the cartels... and bring whatever weapon or weapon system you're manning at the time, they can use that too. They'll still operate shamelessly on our side of the border, we'll whine but do nothing because real border control costs too much; the status quo breathes on.

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

No amount of methamphetamine is safe for any community. Ask anyone from the Pacific NW, the stuff is the most insidious substance ever created. Any allowable effort to eradicate it is the only way to go, long term. Trust me on this.

Otherwise, this smells more like a political stunt rather than real reform. The amount of pot now allowable isn't even a quarter oz., I've seen people go through that much in minutes. They often had help, though.

How will it affect the power of cartels and rampant corruption? Not one bit. The cartels will still advertise for soldiers to desert their military positions for better pay (and health benefits!) through the cartels... and bring whatever weapon or weapon system you're manning at the time, they can use that too. They'll still operate shamelessly on our side of the border, we'll whine but do nothing because real border control costs too much; the status quo breathes on.

[JanYpe 17]

Originally posted by: Jasoncw

If you ask me though, I think this is a reflection of the state of the drug war. It's so overwhelming that they're trying to reduce the scope of the war by making that amount of drugs legal. This probably frees up a lot of resources for the police and drug related agencies.quote>

I should hope it does. Time and resources need to be spent fighting the actual cartels and their infrastructure, not wasted on their instantly replaceable customers.  The production, distribution and exploitation are at the heart of this problem, investigating and prosecuting that side, while discouraging/treating the use instead of locking up users, is the only serious approach to fighting this "drug war".

Originally posted by: manticorefan

No amount of methamphetamine is safe for any community. Ask anyone from the Pacific NW, the stuff is the most insidious substance ever created. Any allowable effort to eradicate it is the only way to go, long term.quote>

Methamphetamine certainly seems like a questionable thing to include in this sort of amnesty, unless getting caught three times comes with definite consequences this is not a long term solution. But who knows, it could be a stopgap on the way to rational policy. Enacting this law was the easy part, now they've got to show actual progress against the criminals.

[JanYpe 17]

Originally posted by: Jasoncw

If you ask me though, I think this is a reflection of the state of the drug war. It's so overwhelming that they're trying to reduce the scope of the war by making that amount of drugs legal. This probably frees up a lot of resources for the police and drug related agencies.quote>

I should hope it does. Time and resources need to be spent fighting the actual cartels and their infrastructure, not wasted on their instantly replaceable customers.  The production, distribution and exploitation are at the heart of this problem, investigating and prosecuting that side, while discouraging/treating the use instead of locking up users, is the only serious approach to fighting this "drug war".

Originally posted by: manticorefan

No amount of methamphetamine is safe for any community. Ask anyone from the Pacific NW, the stuff is the most insidious substance ever created. Any allowable effort to eradicate it is the only way to go, long term.quote>

Methamphetamine certainly seems like a questionable thing to include in this sort of amnesty, unless getting caught three times comes with definite consequences this is not a long term solution. But who knows, it could be a stopgap on the way to rational policy. Enacting this law was the easy part, now they've got to show actual progress against the criminals.

[JanYpe 17]

Originally posted by: Jasoncw

If you ask me though, I think this is a reflection of the state of the drug war. It's so overwhelming that they're trying to reduce the scope of the war by making that amount of drugs legal. This probably frees up a lot of resources for the police and drug related agencies.quote>

I should hope it does. Time and resources need to be spent fighting the actual cartels and their infrastructure, not wasted on their instantly replaceable customers.  The production, distribution and exploitation are at the heart of this problem, investigating and prosecuting that side, while discouraging/treating the use instead of locking up users, is the only serious approach to fighting this "drug war".

Originally posted by: manticorefan

No amount of methamphetamine is safe for any community. Ask anyone from the Pacific NW, the stuff is the most insidious substance ever created. Any allowable effort to eradicate it is the only way to go, long term.quote>

Methamphetamine certainly seems like a questionable thing to include in this sort of amnesty, unless getting caught three times comes with definite consequences this is not a long term solution. But who knows, it could be a stopgap on the way to rational policy. Enacting this law was the easy part, now they've got to show actual progress against the criminals.

[tcx 170]

Originally posted by: JanYpe

..... Enacting this law was the easy part, now they've got to show actual progress against the criminals.

quote>

what!

what more do you want?

what is USA doing to minimize the use of drugs?

stop seeing this like is only Mexico's problem and take action with the drug consumer in your country.

[tcx 170]

Originally posted by: JanYpe

..... Enacting this law was the easy part, now they've got to show actual progress against the criminals.

quote>

what!

what more do you want?

what is USA doing to minimize the use of drugs?

stop seeing this like is only Mexico's problem and take action with the drug consumer in your country.

[tcx 170]

Originally posted by: JanYpe

..... Enacting this law was the easy part, now they've got to show actual progress against the criminals.

quote>

what!

what more do you want?

what is USA doing to minimize the use of drugs?

stop seeing this like is only Mexico's problem and take action with the drug consumer in your country.