Here's link to article:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/04/...s.ap/index.html
And here's a paste of the article itself in case that link is taken down, hidden, or changed:
[b]Mexico set to legalize personal amounts of pot, cocaine, heroin[b]
Friday, April 28, 2006; Posted: 10:10 p.m. EDT (02:10 GMT)
Copyrights CNN (CNN.COM)
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- Mexico's Congress on Friday approved a bill decriminalizing possession of small quantities of marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and even heroin for personal use, prompting U.S. criticism that the measure could harm anti-drug efforts.
The only step remaining was the signature of President Vicente Fox, whose office indicated he would sign the bill, which Mexican officials hope will allow police to focus on large-scale trafficking operations rather than minor drug busts.
"This law gives police and prosecutors better legal tools to combat drug crimes that do so much damage to our youth and children," said Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar.
If Fox signs the measure and it becomes law, it could strain the two countries' cooperation in anti-drug efforts -- and increase the vast numbers of vacationing students who visit Mexico.
Oscar Aguilar, a Mexico City political analyst, said Fox appeared almost certain to sign the law -- his office proposed it, and his party supports it -- and that he had apparently been betting that it would not draw much notice.
"That's probably why they (the senators) passed it the way they did, in the closing hours of the final session," Aguilar said. "He's going to sign it. ... He's not going to abandon his party two months before the (presidential) election."
U.S. officials scrambled to come up with a response to the bill. One U.S. diplomat who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly said "we're still studying the legislation, but any effort to decriminalize illegal drugs would not be helpful."
The bill, passed 53-26 with one abstention by Mexico's Senate in the early morning hours, already has been approved in the lower house of Congress. It 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 says criminal charges will no longer be brought for possession of up to 25 milligrams of heroin, 5 grams of marijuana (about one-fifth of an ounce, or about four joints), or 0.5 grams of cocaine -- the equivalent of about 4 "lines," or half the standard street-sale quantity (though half-size packages are becoming more common).
"No charges will be brought against ... addicts or consumers who are found in possession of any narcotic for personal use," according to the Senate bill, which also lays out allowable quantities for an array of other drugs, including LSD, ecstasy and amphetamines.
Some of the amounts are eye-popping: Mexicans would be allowed to possess more than two pounds of peyote, the button-size hallucinogenic cactus used in some native Indian religious ceremonies.
Mexican law now 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 is not automatic. The new bill drops the "addict" requirement -- automatically allowing any "consumers" to have drugs -- and sets out specific allowable quantities.
Mexican officials declined to explain how the law would work -- including whether drug use in public would be tolerated, or discouraged by other means.
The law was defended by Mexican legislators -- and greeted with glee by U.S. legalization advocates.
"We can't close our eyes to this reality," said Sen. Jorge Zermeno, of Fox's conservative National Action Party. "We cannot continue to fill our jails with people who have addictions."
Ethan Nadelmann, director of the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance, said the bill removed "a huge opportunity for low-level police corruption." In Mexico, police often release people detained for minor drug possession, in exchange for bribes.
Selling all these drugs would remain illegal under the proposed law, unlike the Netherlands, where the sale of marijuana for medical use is legal and it can be bought with a prescription in pharmacies. While Dutch authorities look the other way regarding the open sale of cannabis in designated coffee shops -- something Mexican police seem unlikely to do -- the Dutch have zero tolerance for heroin and cocaine. In both countries, commercial growing of marijuana is outlawed.
In Colombia, a 1994 court ruling decriminalized personal possession of small amounts of cocaine, heroin and other drugs.
The effects in Mexico could be significant, given that the country is rapidly becoming a drug-consuming nation as well as a shipment point for traffickers, and given the number of U.S. students who flock to border cities or resorts like Cancun and Acapulco on vacation.
"This is going to increase addictions in Mexico," said Ulisis Bon, a drug treatment expert in Tijuana, where heroin use is rampant. "A lot of Americans already come here to buy medications they can't get up there ... Just imagine, with heroin."
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Full Version: Drugs Legal In Mexico
Honestly, why is this not surprising to me. 
sounds like the place to party
Please let me state in advance that I think drugs are stupid, lest anyone think otherwise.
But I applaud this, the current "war on drugs" isn't helping but rather HURTING our efforts to slow down drug use. Look back at history and another "drug", alcohol. When was crime and violence most associated with it? During prohibition. I think it's widely known that prohobition was a miserable failure.
The EXACT same thing is happening now with drugs. There's too much money to be made in it for it to ever go away. Now who would you rather profit from it? Violent street gangs and drug cartels or legal NONVIOLENT businessman. Because no matter how much we wish to make it go away and how much money we spend fighting it, it just isn't going to. The simple fact remains that one of the two above are going to make money off of it. I would prefer the nonviolent businessman.
Plus we could probably make a buttload of taxes on it, tax money that we could use to put violent criminals in prison much longer instead of releasing them because of overcrowded prisons.
When booze was made legal again the shootings over it stopped. The Mafia got out of it because there was no money in it anymore. But thanks to prohibition and the money made from it the Mafia got so powerful that it wasn't until the 80's and 90's that we were able to turn the tide against them. That's 50 years of Mafia dominance over just about everything. Just imagine how long it's gonna be before we get rid of the criminal orginizations we have now because of this. And the longer it goes on the more money they make and the harder it's going to be to get rid of them.
It was obvious during the 20's and early 30's that the prohibition of alcohol wasn't doing anything except RAISING violent crime. It's frustrating that people can't see that the exact samething is happening now. The definition of insanity is trying the exact same thing over and over again but expecting different results.
I was watching a news report (20/20 or 60 minutes or something) and they were interviewing high school kids about drugs and alcohol and almost everyone of them said it was MUCH easier to get drugs than alcohol.
The reason is obvious, alcohol is legal but regulated and therefore there's a lot less money in supplying it illegally. Drugs are completely different. It's obviously no problem for them to get them. Again, please don't take this as me saying drugs are good or anything like that, I wish drugs didn't exist but I think we all agree that we need to start being realistic about lowering drug use.
I think the time has come to see that the way we're fighting it now is causing us nothing but further problems. More violent crime, giving gobs of money to Columbian drug cartels that make the Mafia look like altar boys, damage to our Constitution. Granted if we legalized them their would be an upwards surge for a while, and it would never go away but right now we have the worst of situations, we have plenty of drug use, especially among teens, and the violence that goes along with it being illegal and being supplied by evil people.
I'm sure I'm going to be lamblasted for this but I think that this all boils down to the simple fact that society must change before morals and morality can, we cannot legislate morality to change society.
But I applaud this, the current "war on drugs" isn't helping but rather HURTING our efforts to slow down drug use. Look back at history and another "drug", alcohol. When was crime and violence most associated with it? During prohibition. I think it's widely known that prohobition was a miserable failure.
The EXACT same thing is happening now with drugs. There's too much money to be made in it for it to ever go away. Now who would you rather profit from it? Violent street gangs and drug cartels or legal NONVIOLENT businessman. Because no matter how much we wish to make it go away and how much money we spend fighting it, it just isn't going to. The simple fact remains that one of the two above are going to make money off of it. I would prefer the nonviolent businessman.
Plus we could probably make a buttload of taxes on it, tax money that we could use to put violent criminals in prison much longer instead of releasing them because of overcrowded prisons.
When booze was made legal again the shootings over it stopped. The Mafia got out of it because there was no money in it anymore. But thanks to prohibition and the money made from it the Mafia got so powerful that it wasn't until the 80's and 90's that we were able to turn the tide against them. That's 50 years of Mafia dominance over just about everything. Just imagine how long it's gonna be before we get rid of the criminal orginizations we have now because of this. And the longer it goes on the more money they make and the harder it's going to be to get rid of them.
It was obvious during the 20's and early 30's that the prohibition of alcohol wasn't doing anything except RAISING violent crime. It's frustrating that people can't see that the exact samething is happening now. The definition of insanity is trying the exact same thing over and over again but expecting different results.
I was watching a news report (20/20 or 60 minutes or something) and they were interviewing high school kids about drugs and alcohol and almost everyone of them said it was MUCH easier to get drugs than alcohol.
The reason is obvious, alcohol is legal but regulated and therefore there's a lot less money in supplying it illegally. Drugs are completely different. It's obviously no problem for them to get them. Again, please don't take this as me saying drugs are good or anything like that, I wish drugs didn't exist but I think we all agree that we need to start being realistic about lowering drug use.
I think the time has come to see that the way we're fighting it now is causing us nothing but further problems. More violent crime, giving gobs of money to Columbian drug cartels that make the Mafia look like altar boys, damage to our Constitution. Granted if we legalized them their would be an upwards surge for a while, and it would never go away but right now we have the worst of situations, we have plenty of drug use, especially among teens, and the violence that goes along with it being illegal and being supplied by evil people.
I'm sure I'm going to be lamblasted for this but I think that this all boils down to the simple fact that society must change before morals and morality can, we cannot legislate morality to change society.
Mr. Vicente Fox might be trying to level the playing field. The southern US is complaining about the influx of illegal immigrants. They might not all be from central America, but Mr. Fox is saying we will take all comers, including those who like drugs.
And if you think there is much money in drugs, Mr. Fox wants that money to come into his country and I wouldn't blame him for wanting that.
And if you think there is much money in drugs, Mr. Fox wants that money to come into his country and I wouldn't blame him for wanting that.
QUOTE
Mr. Fox wants that money to come into his country and I wouldn't blame him for wanting that.
Good point, I didn't even think of that.
QUOTE(ducktapehero @ Apr 29 2006, 11:52 AM)
Please let me state in advance that I think drugs are stupid, lest anyone think otherwise.
But I applaud this, the current "war on drugs" isn't helping but rather HURTING our efforts to slow down drug use. Look back at history and another "drug", alcohol. When was crime and violence most associated with it? During prohibition. I think it's widely known that prohobition was a miserable failure.
The EXACT same thing is happening now with drugs. There's too much money to be made in it for it to ever go away. Now who would you rather profit from it? Violent street gangs and drug cartels or legal NONVIOLENT businessman. Because no matter how much we wish to make it go away and how much money we spend fighting it, it just isn't going to. The simple fact remains that one of the two above are going to make money off of it. I would prefer the nonviolent businessman.
Plus we could probably make a buttload of taxes on it, tax money that we could use to put violent criminals in prison much longer instead of releasing them because of overcrowded prisons.
When booze was made legal again the shootings over it stopped. The Mafia got out of it because there was no money in it anymore. But thanks to prohibition and the money made from it the Mafia got so powerful that it wasn't until the 80's and 90's that we were able to turn the tide against them. That's 50 years of Mafia dominance over just about everything. Just imagine how long it's gonna be before we get rid of the criminal orginizations we have now because of this. And the longer it goes on the more money they make and the harder it's going to be to get rid of them.
It was obvious during the 20's and early 30's that the prohibition of alcohol wasn't doing anything except RAISING violent crime. It's frustrating that people can't see that the exact samething is happening now. The definition of insanity is trying the exact same thing over and over again but expecting different results.
I was watching a news report (20/20 or 60 minutes or something) and they were interviewing high school kids about drugs and alcohol and almost everyone of them said it was MUCH easier to get drugs than alcohol.
The reason is obvious, alcohol is legal but regulated and therefore there's a lot less money in supplying it illegally. Drugs are completely different. It's obviously no problem for them to get them. Again, please don't take this as me saying drugs are good or anything like that, I wish drugs didn't exist but I think we all agree that we need to start being realistic about lowering drug use.
I think the time has come to see that the way we're fighting it now is causing us nothing but further problems. More violent crime, giving gobs of money to Columbian drug cartels that make the Mafia look like altar boys, damage to our Constitution. Granted if we legalized them their would be an upwards surge for a while, and it would never go away but right now we have the worst of situations, we have plenty of drug use, especially among teens, and the violence that goes along with it being illegal and being supplied by evil people.
I'm sure I'm going to be lamblasted for this but I think that this all boils down to the simple fact that society must change before morals and morality can, we cannot legislate morality to change society.
[right][snapback]57947[/snapback][/right]
But I applaud this, the current "war on drugs" isn't helping but rather HURTING our efforts to slow down drug use. Look back at history and another "drug", alcohol. When was crime and violence most associated with it? During prohibition. I think it's widely known that prohobition was a miserable failure.
The EXACT same thing is happening now with drugs. There's too much money to be made in it for it to ever go away. Now who would you rather profit from it? Violent street gangs and drug cartels or legal NONVIOLENT businessman. Because no matter how much we wish to make it go away and how much money we spend fighting it, it just isn't going to. The simple fact remains that one of the two above are going to make money off of it. I would prefer the nonviolent businessman.
Plus we could probably make a buttload of taxes on it, tax money that we could use to put violent criminals in prison much longer instead of releasing them because of overcrowded prisons.
When booze was made legal again the shootings over it stopped. The Mafia got out of it because there was no money in it anymore. But thanks to prohibition and the money made from it the Mafia got so powerful that it wasn't until the 80's and 90's that we were able to turn the tide against them. That's 50 years of Mafia dominance over just about everything. Just imagine how long it's gonna be before we get rid of the criminal orginizations we have now because of this. And the longer it goes on the more money they make and the harder it's going to be to get rid of them.
It was obvious during the 20's and early 30's that the prohibition of alcohol wasn't doing anything except RAISING violent crime. It's frustrating that people can't see that the exact samething is happening now. The definition of insanity is trying the exact same thing over and over again but expecting different results.
I was watching a news report (20/20 or 60 minutes or something) and they were interviewing high school kids about drugs and alcohol and almost everyone of them said it was MUCH easier to get drugs than alcohol.
The reason is obvious, alcohol is legal but regulated and therefore there's a lot less money in supplying it illegally. Drugs are completely different. It's obviously no problem for them to get them. Again, please don't take this as me saying drugs are good or anything like that, I wish drugs didn't exist but I think we all agree that we need to start being realistic about lowering drug use.
I think the time has come to see that the way we're fighting it now is causing us nothing but further problems. More violent crime, giving gobs of money to Columbian drug cartels that make the Mafia look like altar boys, damage to our Constitution. Granted if we legalized them their would be an upwards surge for a while, and it would never go away but right now we have the worst of situations, we have plenty of drug use, especially among teens, and the violence that goes along with it being illegal and being supplied by evil people.
I'm sure I'm going to be lamblasted for this but I think that this all boils down to the simple fact that society must change before morals and morality can, we cannot legislate morality to change society.
[right][snapback]57947[/snapback][/right]
Well I am not going to blast you.
For what you have said we have talked about here at this house.
Many times.
I agree with you.
love,
rosie
those things are not working. We really need a society that follows Christ.
Bottom line don't you think-or should I say top of the line
Before we blast everybody for being who they are and throwing people away for being a little promiscuous or numb to the truth, I will say another verse that might explain what is happening. Rev 22:11 'He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.' Unjust, filthy. Righteous, holy.
QUOTE
We really need a society that follows Christ.
Amen!!!
QUOTE(ducktapehero @ Apr 30 2006, 05:59 PM)
QUOTE
We really need a society that follows Christ.
Amen!!![right][snapback]58387[/snapback][/right]
You know, it is the funniest thing!!! Sunday afternoon and trying to not do too much (THAT has kept me nearly hospitilized lately) I decided to look through all my "end time" notes from 1998.
WOW and WOW so many things that were "prophesied" have actually come true. But "somehow" an article on Mexico's intentions to legalize drugs got in that fat folder of mine and I saw it and wondered, "why did I put that in there?"
I think there was some link....but I am a year older as of yesterday and the mind is not what it used to be.
leia
QUOTE(leia @ Apr 30 2006, 09:55 PM)
QUOTE(ducktapehero @ Apr 30 2006, 05:59 PM)
QUOTE
We really need a society that follows Christ.
Amen!!![right][snapback]58387[/snapback][/right]
You know, it is the funniest thing!!! Sunday afternoon and trying to not do too much (THAT has kept me nearly hospitilized lately) I decided to look through all my "end time" notes from 1998.
WOW and WOW so many things that were "prophesied" have actually come true. But "somehow" an article on Mexico's intentions to legalize drugs got in that fat folder of mine and I saw it and wondered, "why did I put that in there?"
I think there was some link....but I am a year older as of yesterday and the mind is not what it used to be.
leia
[right][snapback]58460[/snapback][/right]
Leia, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
May the LORD bless you always! 
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