Mexico decriminalises drug possession

by UK Independent (reposted)

Tue, May 2, 2006 6:17PM

Vicente Fox, Mexico's President, is to sign into law a measure that decriminalises the possession of small amounts of drugs including marijuana, cocaine and heroin, his spokesman said.

Ruben Aguilar defended the law, which was approved on Friday by the Senate, despite criticism by some in the US that it could increase casual drug use. Mr Aguilar said the legislation "allows better action and better co-ordination in the fight against drug dealing.

"The government believes that this law represents progress, because it established the minimum quantities that a citizen can carry for personal use."

Under current Mexican law, judges can drop charges against people caught with drugs if they can prove they are addicts and if an expert certifies they were caught with "the quantity necessary for personal use". The new bill makes the decriminalisation automatic and allows "consumers" as well as addicts to have drugs.

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http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article361576.ece

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