Mexico decriminalizes possession of small amounts of drugs

[Gold Metal Flake]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/21/mexico-decriminalizes-sma_n_264904.html

MEXICO CITY — Mexico decriminalized small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and heroin on Friday – a move that prosecutors say makes sense even in the midst of the government's grueling battle against drug traffickers.

Prosecutors said the new law sets clear limits that keep Mexico's corruption-prone police from shaking down casual users and offers addicts free treatment to keep growing domestic drug use in check.

"This is not legalization, this is regulating the issue and giving citizens greater legal certainty," said Bernardo Espino del Castillo of the attorney general's office.

The maximum amount of marijuana for "personal use" under the new law is 5 grams – the equivalent of about four joints. The limit is a half gram for cocaine, the equivalent of about 4 "lines." For other drugs, the limits are 50 milligrams of heroin, 40 milligrams for methamphetamine and 0.015 milligrams for LSD.

[Curtland1015]

1. There are plenty of pros and cons to this.

Certainly there are many valid reasons for Mexico's decisions.

But I've had relatives addicted to heroin. That is some SCARY shit.

Big thumbs up for offering free treatment to addicts however.

[Romulox]

3. Prohibition didn't keep your relatives off of heroin. It did make their lives a lot more dangerous

though.

[paulsby]

2. its a rare occasion for me to say

that mexican governance has done something that i, as a US citizen am envious of. this is one of those occasions.

[Posteritatis]

4. There's dose equivalents for two of those given - what're those for the other three? (nt)

[Romulox]

5. Prohibition in the US will become less and less sustainable... nt

[Quantess]

8. Which will provoke some US Americans to say,

"Those damn Mexicans and their drugs are causing trouble again!"

But this is a step in the proper direction, and I hope USA follows suit.

[timeforpeace]

6. Good news.

[Taitertots]

7. Just to make sure their narcotics gangs have an unlimited client base

And their dealers have no chance of getting busted.

This is a win for the narcotics gangs more than the Mexican people.

[barbiegeek]

9. they were fighting a losing battle anyway

I don't know if they did this because of the corruption or if the Cartels just became the government.

Anyway, anyone visiting Mexico that says they had a "Good Trip" now has double meaning.

This article forgets to mention decriminalization of LSD too.

[Gold Metal Flake]

10. LSD is mentioned in the text and in the forth paragragh in my OP.

Rosarito. Come for the cheap lobster, stay for the acid.