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Mexico Decriminalizes Small-Scale Drug Possession

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Mexico Decriminalizes Small-Scale Drug Possession
Description
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.
Original URL
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/21/mexico-decriminalizes-sma_n_264904.html

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    • JDP JDP
      3 months ago


      On the other hand, here in the USA, casual users with even small amounts may get long, mandatory prison sentences. After all, there's jobs and money to be made on that in law enforcement and in prisons (especially when we are "privatizing" some of those). Next, the new Pickerton's will "enforce the law" for Budweiser, Phillip Morris, Exxon, and so on (Black Water already took over policing, security, and certain military operations in Iraq; why not bring that "success" home!?). Meanwhile, backward countries like Mexico will use limited resources where they can count most (hurt the fewest of the least culpable "miscreants", and maybe get the worst "bag guys" quicker).
      Healthcare Policy in the United States, Politics, World News, Health and Medicine, Unintended Consequences/Unexpected Results, Geopolitics, The Radical Twine, The Skeptic, Public Policy, Twine News
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