Mexico Senate OKs bill to legalize drug possession
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009 at 2:20 pm | By: Dudemaster
Surprise, Surprise!
The bill, proposed by conservative President Felipe Calderon, would make it legal to carry up to 5 grams (0.18 ounces) of marijuana, 500 milligrams (0.018 ounces) of cocaine and tiny quantities of other drugs such as heroin and methamphetamines.
Mexico’s Congress passed a similar proposal in 2006 but the bill was vetoed by Calderon’s predecessor Vicente Fox, under pressure from the United States, which said it would increase drug abuse, but now is worried by the drug-related violence along its border.
Mexican President Calderon was praised by U.S. President Barack Obama this month for his military assaults on cartels during a visit to the Mexican capital. President Obama pledged more soldiers to the American side of the border to hamper the flow of guns to the cartels.
The bill, which needs to be approved by the lower house, also allows Mexican states to convict small-time drug dealers, no longer making it a federal crime to peddle drugs. Drug dealers are rarely convicted in Mexico as federal courts are saturated with bigger cases and local judges cannot interfere.
Let’s face it, our prohibition created the problem in Mexico, and our Prohibition is going to destroy Mexico. As a recent military retiree, I spent more than 7 years living in South America conducting foreign internal defense and anti-narcotic or eradication missions during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. This law will greatly improve the lives of the impoverished, and will “begin to take steps in a positive direction”.
After wearing a uniform for more than 20 years, I have little patience for ignorance or stupidity. The latter can be cured, but the former is usually terminal.
With this in mind; I direct this question to my Congressional Representative, the terminally ignorant Honorable Congressman (Dr.) Michael Burgess.
In light of all the factual scientific evidence in regards to the “Drug War” being a dismal failure, and in light of all of the medically relevant scientific evidence, patents, and science based companies researching more medical uses of Cannabis, why are you still standing on broken and irrelevant arguments?
“Marijuana is a controlled substance and legalizing or relaxing criminal penalties will only open the doors for further illegal activities.” “modern day scourge.”
Hmmmm, is that stupidity, ignorance or perhaps cowardice? I’ll let you, the reader, decide.
In the meantime, let’s educate our politicians and teach them that Marijuana is not a poison, but rather a non-toxic substance that all Americans should have the right to choose as a safer alternative to alcohol.
Topics: cartel, drug cartels, Felipe Calderon, mexican drug cartel, Mexico, military, Politicians on Pot, President Obama, Rep. Michael Burgess
come on baby spread that love up this way and let it open our politicians eyes please!!! i say legalize and tax weed and decrim. other “hard drugs”
Five grams isn’t too bad why would you want more for one smoking session? I would be happy if they even do approve the bill….Hey it’s a start right?
would it extend to tourists?! :D
I don’t think this would go very far in the drug wars, but it would definitely elevate some of the time burden placed on policia arresting low level users, then figuring out if they have ties to the cartels, then being tried, etc. It will probably save a lot of innocent people from the interrogation and (sometimes) torture that comes with being accused of Drug Cartel involvement. Then again, would legality stop the policia from “enhanced” interrogation against simple possessors? We shall see.
But the drug war is not due to Mexican prohibition, but American. Until OUR prohibition ends, there’s not really much they can do.
I just thought of something, do you think Mexico will be able to afford its war on the cartels if this Swine flu outbreak bankrupts them? What will happen then? :O
This is SO frustrating.
Five grams is nothing. This is going to have no perceptible effect–except maybe to confuse things.
It’s not even clear how much the Drug War violence in Mexico has to do with marijuana trade rather than, say, cocaine.
This measure is to small to do good for the Mexican people and may actively harm to our cause.
aargh
It’s 5 grams to carry in Amsterdam isn’t it??
Prohibition is cracking up. This is a argument we can use in our favor.
We have several arguments now
1. Holland
2. Portugal
3. California (practical legal)
4. Mexico
5. India (where a cannabis drink is allowed).
any more ?
Dudemaster you rock…… :2thumb: