REVscene Automotive Forum - Mexico decriminalizes small amounts of marijuana

REVscene Automotive Forum (https://www.revscene.net/forums/)

- Vancouver Off-Topic / Current Events (https://www.revscene.net/forums/vancouver-off-topic-current-events_50/)

- - Mexico decriminalizes small amounts of marijuana (https://www.revscene.net/forums/586583-mexico-decriminalizes-small-amounts-marijuana.html)

Mexico decriminalizes small amounts of marijuana

Quote:

Mexico decriminalizes small-scale drug possession
Updated: Fri Aug. 21 2009 07:58:16

The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY — Mexico decriminalized small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and heroin on Friday -- a move that prosecutors say makes sense even in the midst of the government's grueling battle against drug traffickers.

Prosecutors said the new law sets clear limits that keep Mexico's corruption-prone police from shaking down casual users and offers addicts free treatment to keep growing domestic drug use in check.

"This is not legalization, this is regulating the issue and giving citizens greater legal certainty," said Bernardo Espino del Castillo of the attorney general's office.

The new law sets out maximum "personal use" amounts for drugs, also including LSD and methamphetamine. People detained with those quantities no longer face criminal prosecution.

Espino del Castillo says, in practice, small users almost never did face charges anyway. Under the previous law, the possession of any amount of drugs was punishable by stiff jail sentences, but there was leeway for addicts caught with smaller amounts.

"We couldn't charge somebody who was in possession of a dose of a drug, there was no way ... because the person would claim they were an addict," he said.

Despite the provisions, police sometimes hauled in suspects and demanded bribes, threatening long jail sentences if people did not pay.

"The bad thing was that it was left up to the discretion of the detective, and it could open the door to corruption or extortion," Espino del Castillo said.

Anyone caught with drug amounts under the new personal-use limit will be encouraged to seek treatment, and for those caught a third time treatment is mandatory.

The maximum amount of marijuana for "personal use" under the new law is 5 grams -- the equivalent of about four joints. The limit is a half gram for cocaine, the equivalent of about 4 "lines." For other drugs, the limits are 50 milligrams of heroin, 40 milligrams for methamphetamine and 0.015 milligrams for LSD.

Mexico has emphasized the need to differentiate drug addicts and casual users from the violent traffickers whose turf battles have contributed to the deaths of more than 11,000 people since President Felipe Calderon took office in late 2006.

But one expert saw potential for conflict under the new law.

Javier Oliva, a political scientist at Mexico's National Autonomous University, said the new law posed "a serious contradiction" for the Calderon administration.

"If they decriminalize drugs it could lead the army, which has been given the task of combating this, to say 'What are we doing'?" he said.

Officials said the legal changes could help the government focus more on big-time traffickers.

Espino del Castillo said since Calderon took office, there have been over 15,000 police searches related to small-scale drug dealing or possession, with 95,000 people detained -- but only 12 to 15 per cent of whom were ever charged with anything.

Good on Mexico. So when's our turn?

The decriminalization of weed should have happened in this country long ago. However, we're faced with the reality of our close trading relationship with the United States. We decriminalize weed and they tighten the border which hurts us economically. The United States will never go soft on drugs - there are simply too many interests at stake (the law-enforcement bureaucracy, to name one.)

Mexico, on the other hand, has been dealing with a tight border for a long time so it's not like this move is going to affect how the United States reacts.

^ My thoughts exactly.

How are they gonna tighten the border?

Do you really think American businesses care if Canadian citizens are allowed to carry small amounts of marijuana for personal use? Like they will stop doing business with us because of that....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tapioca (Post 6557557)

Our politicians need to grow a pair, and stand up to the U.S.

I think they need us too much for our raw materials that they can't really afford to tighten up as everybody thinks they will.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bengy (Post 6557573)

Go cross the border with a small amount and see how much they care.

Oh, and make sure they know it's for "personal use" only.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Great68 (Post 6557575)

Our politicians need to grow a pair, and stand up to the U.S.

I think they need us too much for our raw materials that they can't really afford to tighten up as everybody thinks they will.

Exactly. They need us as much as we need them. If they stop doing business with us, who is going to replace us?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noir (Post 6557581)

Go cross the border with a small amount and see how much they care.

Oh, and make sure they know it's for "personal use" only.

I'm talking about businesses dumb fuck, not policing agencies. Also, I'm talking about possession and use in Canada, not coming over the border with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bengy (Post 6557573)

The interests of American businesses are not always in line with the bureaucracy's/politicians'.

80% of our exports go to the United States. If we loosen our drug laws, this will be perceived by the politicians and bureaucrats in the US as being soft on drugs. Therefore, they will tighten the border and make it harder for our goods/materials to get into the US. I know this isn't intuitive as personal possession rarely has to do with distribution, but general ignorance and politicians wanting to make a name for themselves are a powerful combination.

yes, the americans are all about control. why else do they have their noses in every single war conflict outside of US.

to be a "Powerful Nation", means to rule the whole world nation absolutely.

to give in to another nations politics and even their laws means they are bowing down to another nation, thus if we ever decriminalize marijuana, they will tighten up their borders more. We DO do a lot of trading with the states, but we arent the only nation that does trading to the states.

i dont see decriminalization happening any time soon, not with our happy american loving "me love you long time" gov't right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bengy (Post 6557573)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bengy (Post 6557585)

I'm talking about businesses dumb fuck, not policing agencies. Also, I'm talking about possession and use in Canada, not coming over the border with it.

Yeah, you were giving the impression that a resulting tighter border security yeilds no consequence at all, social or economic.

The statement still stands, go to the border and find out yourself asshat. This is why your parents should've waited til they passed their teens to have you, you alcohol baby asshat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noir (Post 6557907)

This is why your parents should've waited til they passed their teens to have you, you alcohol baby asshat.

Weak. The thread doesn't need to turn into a flamefest because you incorrectly inferred something.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noir (Post 6557907)

holy fuck, didn't your parents teach you 2 wrongs don't make a right? you need to smoke a joint and chill the fuck out.

PS be sure to lose the roach in your car for the next time you go across the border. :thumbsup:

Quote:

Originally Posted by murd0c (Post 6558081)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Great68 (Post 6557948)

Weak. The thread doesn't need to turn into a flamefest because you incorrectly inferred something.

Funny how the call out didn't involve the originator. Perhaps because he's a pro-marijuana sympathizer :rolleyes:

If you're gonna take the high-road, at least call it both ways. Or else, it's just as petty. Congrats. :thumbsup:

Quote:

Originally Posted by bengy (Post 6557585)

I'm talking about businesses dumb fuck, not policing agencies. Also, I'm talking about possession and use in Canada, not coming over the border with it.