Posted on 04/29/2006 7:38:33 AM PDT by radar101
Drug limits List of maximum allowable drug quantities approved for personal use by Mexico's Congress:
Opium: (raw, to be smoked): 5 grams
Heroin: 25 milligrams
Marijuana: 5 grams
Cocaine: 500 milligrams
LSD: .015 milligrams
MDA: 200 milligrams
MDMA (Ecstasy): 200 milligrams
Mescaline: 1 gram
Peyote: 1 kilogram
Psilocybin (concentrate, pure, active ingredient): 100 milligrams
Hallucinogenic mushrooms (raw, off the farm): 250 milligrams
Amphetamines: 100 milligrams
Dexamphetamines: 40 milligrams
Phencyclidine (PCP, or Angel Dust): 7 milligrams
Methamphetamines: 200 milligrams
Nalbuphine (synthetic opiate): 10 milligrams Psilocybin (concentrate, pure, active ingredient): 100 milligrams
Hallucinogenic mushrooms (raw, off the farm): 250 milligrams
Amphetamines: 100 milligrams
Dexamphetamines: 40 milligrams
Phencyclidine (PCP, or Angel Dust): 7 milligrams
Methamphetamines: 200 milligrams
Nalbuphine (synthetic opiate): 10 milligrams
Mayor Jerry Sanders and other local officials were astounded to hear that Mexico is close to legalizing an array of drugs – from marijuana to heroin – for personal use.
“I view this as a hostile action by a longtime ally of the U.S.,” Sanders said at a City Hall news conference.
Mexico's Congress approved a bill yesterday that would allow possession of small quantities of marijuana, Ecstasy, cocaine and even heroin.
Mexican lawmakers say the change would actually strengthen drug enforcement efforts, but that's not the interpretation north of the border.
“Legalizing these drugs is certainly going to have a spillover effect in San Diego,” said Damon Mosler, head of narcotics at the San Diego County District Attorney's Office.
“It means they'll be importing people who want to do drugs, and exporting those who need the financial wherewithal to continue to do those drugs they've become addicted to,” he said.
While shock and outrage dominated local reaction to the proposed law, federal authorities noted they were still gathering information on the specific details of the bill. They said the legislation appears to “clarify” policies, rather than legalize drugs.
In Mexico, the situation wasn't any clearer.
Ruth Hernández, a congresswoman with the National Action Party, said the law's intent is actually to prosecute more people for drug possession.
“This is not a law that will tolerate the consumption of drugs, but the way it was expressed makes it appear like that, and that's why it's creating a lot of consternation,” Hernández said. “The law should be sufficiently clear so there is no doubt in its interpretation.”
She said she abstained from voting on the measure because of her concerns with how it's being interpreted.
President Vicente Fox is almost certain to sign it, said Oscar Aguilar, a Mexico City political analyst. Fox's office proposed it, and his party supports it.
“He's not going to abandon his party two months before the (presidential) election,” Aguilar said.
Locally, the region's top political and law enforcement officials gathered at the news conference late yesterday to attack the policy change.
“This is going to have a tremendously bad effect on San Diego and the people who visit here,” Police Chief William Lansdowne said.
Sanders said he plans to encourage Fox not to sign the bill.
The legislation is “appallingly stupid, reckless and dangerous,” said the mayor, who was flanked by Lansdowne, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, Chula Vista Police Chief Richard Emerson and others.
“One has to ask the question: Are the drug lords running the show?” Dumanis said. “More addicts will flood our streets and crime will go up.”
Officials are concerned about the proposed law's effect on young adults. With a drinking age of 18, teens already pack bars and nightclubs in places like Tijuana, Cancun, Acapulco. But many avoid drugs because they're worried about getting caught.
The Bush administration had no immediate reaction. Calls to the San Diego offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement were referred to the U.S. State Department.
“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,” Janelle Hironimus, a State Department press agent, told The San Diego Union-Tribune in a prepared statement.
“We are working with our colleagues in Mexico to get additional information on this proposed legislation,” she said.
The statement also noted that the United States and Mexico “have a strong history of counter-narcotics cooperation, and the Fox administration has taken a firm stance against illegal drug cultivation, trafficking and abuse.”
Currently, 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 exemption isn't automatic.
The new bill drops the “addict” requirement – automatically allowing any “consumers” to have drugs – and sets out specific allowable quantities.
Victor Clark, a Tijuana-based human rights activist who follows drug trends closely, said it appears the law would lead to more people being prosecuted for drug possession.
Clark said that under the previous law, many people were able to argue that they were addicts, and that meant they were back in the streets within hours.
Sale of all drugs would remain illegal under the proposed law. Still, the effects could be significant, given that Mexico is rapidly becoming a drug-consuming nation as well as a shipment point for traffickers.
The policy change is likely to surface when John Walters, director of the National Drug Control Policy in Washington, arrives in San Diego to meet with officials Wednesday.
A spokesman for Walters said the director's trip was planned prior to the development south of the border.
Mexican officials hope the law will help police focus on large-scale trafficking operations, rather than minor drug busts. 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.
The bill, passed by Mexico's Senate on a 53-26 vote with one abstention yesterday, had already been approved in the lower house. “This law gives police and prosecutors better legal tools to combat drug crimes that do so much damage to our youth and children,” presidential spokesman Rubén Aguilar said.
Under the measure, criminal charges would no longer be brought for possession of up to 25 milligrams of heroin, five grams of marijuana and a half-gram of cocaine.
“No charges will be brought against . . . addicts or consumers who are found in possession of any narcotic for personal use,” according to the bill, which also lays out allowable quantities for a large array of other drugs, including LSD, Ecstasy and amphetamines.
In California, it's illegal to possess cocaine, heroin, LSD, Ecstasy and amphetamines. Medical marijuana can be used in certain circumstances, but casual use is illegal. Possession of less than one ounce of pot can draw a citation and a fine.
“Simple possession is an effective investigative tool into other crimes, including trafficking,” said Mosler of the District Attorney's Office.
While the drug amounts the bill outlines appear to be small, they're enough to supply some users for several days, said Dr. James Dunford, medical director of the city of San Diego's paramedic service.
“It's a travesty from a public health perspective,” he said.
Sanders said Mexico's legislation couldn't come at a worse time, as the U.S. struggles with immigration issues.
“I think it's going to be necessary to have a much more secure border,” Sanders said.
With the size of the loads coming across, these quantities amount to nothing but residue.
So is wire tapping, kicking in doors, torture, etc. but there are restrictions on those methods also.
Are they trying to attract more tourists to their cesspool of a country?
Some people say there's a woman to blame
But I say no, cause pot's all I got
Thank God, there are still people who are sane and see how wrong this is.Now let Congress know it is yet another hostile act by mexicans.
Just as Mexico exports its poor to the US, so possibly the US can export its drug addicts to Mexico. This may work out. ;o)
So what's the difference between legal and illegal. Mexico has already demonstrated they do not know.
Just further proof that Mexico is actively involved in promoting drug use and trafficing.
"The county won't give me no more methadone,
and they cut off my welfare check.
Carmelita, hold me tighter . . . "
Linda "Why, Michael Moore is a Minuteman!" Ronstadt
Mexico attracts rich, spoiled Americans every day. IMPO this is a publicity ploy designed to attract gullible gringos to popular resorts where they can be lured into dangerous situations. Kidnappings are sure to increase. Watch out for resorts like Cancun to become world famous next year for high profile crime reports.
I wouldn't get too excited about this. 200 milligrams of cocaine = 0.2 grams or about one line. 100 milligrams of speed is about the same dosage.
As any druggie can tell you, one line is never enough.
Is the U.S. "actively involved in promoting" alcohol use because that drug is legal?
Why is it wrong? Is the legality of the drug alcohol wrong?
Now let Congress know it is yet another hostile act by mexicans.
Instead of sticking our noses in other nations' business, we should defend our borders so we aren't affected by their decisions.
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Maybe the Mexicans see the futility in trying to dictate what a citizen does with their own body.
Meanwhile - back here in the U.S. - All the fed.'s men and all the fed.'s horses and all the citizen's tax money can't stop anyone from smoking a joint.
Used to play that song years ago!I thought I was the only one who ever heard it!Used to.
As bad as this sounds to probably most of the readers: drugs are here to stay. People have been doing drugs, especially drugs like cannabis/marijuana, peyote, psylocybin mushrooms, etc., for thousands upon thousands of years. That doesn't make it right or healthy but to some extent it's just a fact of life. The drug war will never be won. We've been fighting this war since the 1930s if not before and drugs have only become more available and more potent. In some sense, prosecution for drugs like cannabis is just kind of silly because cannabis, it can be argued easily, is not physically addictive, does not pose a threat of overdose and to some extent isn't nearly as debilitating as alcohol.
Of course a comparison to alcohol doesn't make cannabis good or make alcohol bad but you can at least argue that our laws and culture are not being consistent.
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