Mexican President Vicente Fox refused to sign a drug decriminalization bill Wednesday. The
U.S. warned the plan could encourage "drug tourism." Fox asked Congress to make corrections to make it clear in our country that the possession of drugs and their use are, and will continue to be, a criminal offense.
On Tuesday, Fox's spokesman had called the bill "an advance”. However, the measure, passed Friday by Congress, drew criticism because it eliminates criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of heroin, methamphetamines, PCP, marijuana and cocaine.
There are concerns the measure could increase drug use by border visitors and U.S. students who go to
Mexico on vacation.
The mayor of San Diego, who is just a short drive from the border town of Tijuana,
Mexico, disliked Fox's decision, saying he was "appalled" by the bill because it could increase the availability of drugs north of the border.
Current Mexican law allows judges to drop charges if suspects can prove they are first-time offenders.
Under the law, consumers could have legally possessed up to 25 milligrams of heroin, a half a gram of cocaine and about one-fifth of an ounce of marijuana.
Although I’m glad that
Mexico decided to legalize these drugs, I don’t think it was a good idea for them to decriminalize possession of small amounts. This is only going to encourage people. I think it will spike the rate of college kids who do drugs when traveling on spring break and also I don’t think it is good for the people of
Mexico. They need to be solving their drug problem, and allowing people to be in possession is not the right direction.
According to the latest news, President Fox actually changed his mind about decriminalizing drugs in order to appease our government! I think this was all a political sham.
Our goverment allow alcohol, Tabacoo, and SUV's but no Marihuana. The land of the free anyone?
Judging by the fact that you spelled
GOVERNMENT
and
TOBACCO
wrong, I dont think you need to be smoking pot.
He also didn't spell "marijuana" correctly.
That's true. Unbelievable.
We should do this here...
I think that the drugs shouldn't be legalized because freedom comes with a price. Laws are made to protect and organize the people. If a law is not doing that then I don't see the purpose of it. The Mexican President seems to me like he is just trying to solve Mexico's problems, but he doesn't realize that all he is doing is adding to them. There is also a contrast to this because of the Prohibition in the 1920's. Instead of reducing illegal actions and improving the United States the Prohibition was just a stupid mistake that I beleive our government is still embarrassed about.
Where do you draw the line?
I never agreed with drug legalization, I find it hard to admit. Are these people blind? How many people must die until we actually start changing something in better? Drugs make a lot of victims and Mexico is not the place for legalizing these dangerous substances.
~edited for spam content by ediblewoman on 09/23/08