{"article":{"id":229859,"heading":"Mexico legalizes drug use","author":"420 Time","created":"2009-08-22 14:41:53","modified":"2013-11-11 01:00:52","last_modified":"Mon, 11 Nov 2013 08:00:52","article":"\r\n
Amount<\/td>Drug<\/td><\/tr>\r\n
5000 mg<\/td>marijuana<\/td><\/tr>\r\n
500 mg<\/td>cocaine <\/td><\/tr>\r\n
50 mg<\/td>heroin <\/td><\/tr>\r\n
40 mg<\/td>methamphetamine <\/td><\/tr>\r\n
.015 mg<\/td>LSD <\/td><\/tr>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n

\r\n<\/p>

\r\n

\r\nSource\r\n<\/p>

\r\nMexico decriminalizes small-scale drug possession\r\n<\/p>

\r\nAug. 20, 2009 06:30 PM\r\n<\/p>

\r\nAssociated Press \r\n<\/p>

\r\nMEXICO CITY - Mexico enacted a controversial law on Thursday that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs while encouraging free government treatment for drug dependency.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe law defines “personal use” amounts for drugs, also including LSD and methamphetamines. People detained with those quantities no longer face criminal prosecution when the law goes into effect on Friday.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nAnyone 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 the law does not specify penalties for noncompliance. \r\nIn 2006, the U.S. government publicly criticized a similar bill. Then-President Vicente Fox sent that law — which did not have a mandatory treatment provision — back to Congress for reconsideration.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe maximum amount considered to be for “personal use” under the new law is 5 grams of marijuana — the equivalent of two or three joints — or a half-gram of cocaine. The limit for methamphetamine is 40 milligrams, and 0.015 milligrams of LSD.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe law was approved by Congress before it recessed in late April, and President Felipe Calderon — who is leading a major offensive against drug cartels — waited most of the summer before enacting it. Calderon's original proposal would have required first-time detainees to complete treatment or face jail time. But the lower house of Congress, where Calderon's party was short of a majority, weakened the bill.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nMexico has emphasized the need to differentiate between addicts or casual consumers and the violent drug traffickers whose turf battles have contributed to the deaths of over 11,000 people during Calderon's term. And in the face of growing domestic drug use, Mexico has increased its focus on prevention and drug treatment. Sen. Pablo Gomez of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party praised the legislation: “This law achieves the decriminalization of drugs, and in exchange, offers government recovery treatment for addicts.”\r\n<\/p>

\r\nPreviously, all drug possession was punishable by stiff jail sentences, with some leeway for those considered addicts and caught with smaller amounts. In practice, relatively few people were prosecuted and sentenced to jail for small-time possession.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nWhile the United States openly expressed concern about the 2006 law, this time around it has been more circumspect.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nAsked about the new law in July, U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske said he would adopt a “wait-and-see attitude.”\r\n<\/p>

\r\n“If the sanction becomes completely nonexistent I think that would be a concern, but I actually didn't read quite that level of de facto (decriminalization) in the law,” said Kerlikowske, who heads the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nWhether the law's proposed sanctions “are actually enough or not, I'm not sure,” he said. \r\n<\/p>

\r\n<\/p>

\r\n

\r\nSource\r\n<\/p>

\r\nMexico Legalizes Drug Possession \r\n<\/p>

\r\nBy THE ASSOCIATED PRESS\r\n<\/p>

\r\nPublished: August 21, 2009 \r\n<\/p>

\r\nMEXICO 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. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe 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. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nAnyone 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.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nMexican authorities said the change only recognized the longstanding practice here of not prosecuting people caught with small amounts of drugs. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe 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. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nPresident Felipe Calderón waited months before approving the law.\r\n<\/p>

\r\n<\/p>

\r\n

\r\nSource\r\n<\/p>

\r\nMexico Legalizes Drugs\r\n<\/p>

\r\nBy Ray Gomez\r\n<\/p>

\r\nStory Created: Aug 20, 2009 \r\n<\/p>

\r\nIn a surprise move from the federal government in Mexico, a law has been enacted legalizing all drugs for personal use.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe law makes it legal to possess and use small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, and heroin even L.S.D. and methamphetamines.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe law enacted today defines the amounts that are legal for personal use.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nPeople caught with those amounts would not face criminal prosecution but when caught for a third time the person would be required to complete treatment programs.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nAlthough the government specifies no way of enforcing that the law takes effect tomorrow.\r\nIn 2006, a similar bill was considered by then President Vicente Fox.\r\nIt was highly criticized by the U.S. government.\r\n<\/p>

\r\n<\/p>

\r\n

\r\nSource\r\n<\/p>

\r\nMEXICO CITY, Aug. 20, 2009 \r\n<\/p>

\r\n(AP) Mexico enacted a controversial law on Thursday that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs while encouraging free government treatment for drug dependency. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe law defines \"personal use\" amounts for drugs, also including LSD and methamphetamines. People detained with those quantities no longer face criminal prosecution when the law goes into effect on Friday. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nAnyone 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 the law does not specify penalties for noncompliance. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nIn 2006, the U.S. government publicly criticized a similar bill. Then-President Vicente Fox sent that law - which did not have a mandatory treatment provision - back to Congress for reconsideration. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe maximum amount considered to be for \"personal use\" under the new law is 5 grams of marijuana - the equivalent of two or three joints - or a half-gram of cocaine. The limit for methamphetamine is 40 milligrams, and 0.015 milligrams of LSD. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe law was approved by Congress before it recessed in late April, and President Felipe Calderon - who is leading a major offensives against drug cartels - waited most of the summer before enacting it. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nCalderon's original proposal would have required first-time detainees to complete treatment or face jail time. But the lower house of Congress, where Calderon's party was short of a majority, weakened the bill. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nMexico has emphasized the need to differentiate between addicts or casual consumers and the violent drug traffickers whose turf battles have contributed to the deaths of over 11,000 people during Calderon's term. And in the face of growing domestic drug use, Mexico has increased its focus on prevention and drug treatment. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nSen. Pablo Gomez of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party praised the legislation: \"This law achieves the decriminalization of drugs, and in exchange, offers government recovery treatment for addicts.\" \r\n<\/p>

\r\nPreviously, all drug possession was punishable by stiff jail sentences, with some leeway for those considered addicts and caught with smaller amounts. In practice, relatively few people were prosecuted and sentenced to jail for small-time possession. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nWhile the United States openly expressed concern about the 2006 law, this time around it has been more circumspect. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nAsked about the new law in July, U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske said he would adopt a \"wait-and-see attitude.\" \r\n<\/p>

\r\n\"If the sanction becomes completely nonexistent I think that would be a concern, but I actually didn't read quite that level of de facto (decriminalization) in the law,\" said Kerlikowske, who heads the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy. \r\n<\/p>

\r\nWhether the law's proposed sanctions \"are actually enough or not, I'm not sure,\" he said. \r\n<\/p>\n","contact":"","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"Mexico Legalizes Drug Possession for \u201cpersonal use\u201d ! People detained with small quantities no longer face criminal prosecution when the law goes into effect today.","numcomment":1,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2009\/08\/229859.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":229943,"heading":"Argentine court throws out jail time for pot smokers!","article":"Argentine court throws out jail time for marijuana smokers! They didn't legalize drugs like Mexico did last Friday, but it is a step in the right direction!\r\n\r\nCheck out the article\r\n\r\nhttp:\/\/la.indymedia.org\/news\/2009\/08\/229942.php","author":"420 Time","parent_id":229859,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2009-08-26 19:03:05","modified":"2009-08-26 19:03:05","fileurl":""}]}