Pubdate: Sat, 29 Apr 2006 Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX) Copyright: 2006 Austin American-Statesman Contact: http://www.statesman.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/32 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Mexico (Mexico) MEXICO PLANS TO ALLOW SMALL AMOUNTS OF NARCOTICS Mexico's Congress Votes to Legalize Possession of Small Amounts of Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana and Other Illicit Drugs. MEXICO CITY - Mexico's Congress approved a bill Friday that would essentially legalize possession of small quantities of marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and even heroin for personal use. The only step remaining is the signature of the president, whose office indicates he will sign it. The bill, passed in the early morning hours by Mexico's Senate on a 53-26 vote with one abstention, has already been approved in the lower house of Congress and was sent to President Vicente Fox. "The presidency congratulates the Congress for approving the reforms," Fox spokesman Ruben Aguilar said. "This law gives police and prosecutors better legal tools to combat drug crimes that do so much damage to our youth and children." Aguilar's comments apparently referred to provisions in the bill that would stiffen penalties for trafficking and possession of drugs - even small quantities - near schools or by government employees. One reason for the law, analysts say, is that it would allow police to focus on large-scale trafficking operations rather than minor drug busts. U.S. officials had no immediate reaction on what the effect the legalization could have on the war on drugs - or the vast numbers of American students who flock to border cities or resorts such as Cancun and Acapulco on vacation. The bill says charges will no longer be brought for possession of 25 milligrams of heroin, 5 grams of marijuana (about four joints), or 0.5 grams of cocaine. And Mexicans will be allowed to posses 2.2 lbs of peyote, the hallucinogenic cactus used in some Indian religious ceremonies. "From my point of view, this is bad," said Ulisis Bon, who works for a drug rehabilitation center in the border city of Tijuana, where heroin use has skyrocketed. "This is going to increase addictions in Mexico." "A lot of Americans already come here to buy medications they can't get up there," Bon said. "Just imagine, with heroin." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake