Possessing marijuana, cocaine and even heroin will no longer be a crime in Mexico if the drugs are carried in small amounts for personal use, under legislation passed by Congress.

The measure given final passage by senators in a late night session on Thursday allows police to focus on their battle against major drug dealers, the government says, and President Vicente Fox is expected to sign it into law.

"This law provides more judicial tools for authorities to fight crime," presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar said on Friday. The measure was approved earlier by the lower house.

Under the legislation, police will not penalise people for possessing up to five grams of marijuana, five grams of opium, 25 milligrams of heroin or 500 milligrams of cocaine.

People caught with larger quantities of drugs will be treated as narcotics dealers and face increased jail terms under the plan.

The legal changes will also decriminalise the possession of limited quantities of other drugs, including LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, amphetamines and peyote - a psychotropic cactus found in Mexico's northern deserts.

The legislation came as a surprise to Washington, which counts on Mexico's support in its war against drug smuggling gangs who move massive quantities of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines through Mexico to US consumers.

A delegation from the US House of Representatives visited Mexico last week and met with senior officials to discuss drug control issues, but was told nothing of the planned legislative changes, said Michelle Gress, a House subcommittee counsel who was part of the visiting team.

This is a ing brilliant move. Mexico's economy will boom with millions of additional tourists. Spring break will be huge for them next year. You know some day we will look back, laugh and say "remember when Marijuana was illegal".

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Two things come to mind, first this is another move by Mexico to blackmail the US into providing even more financial aid to prop them up.

Or two, they have lost their minds. The logic doesn't fit. By relaxing drug laws you will not be able to go after the major players. It would appear that the influence of the drug traffickers has reached a new zenith in Mexico.

People caught with larger quantities of drugs will be treated as narcotics dealers and face increased jail terms under the plan.

The legislation came as a surprise to Washington, which counts on Mexico's support in its war against drug smuggling gangs who move massive quantities of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines through Mexico to US consumers.

I actually think it's a brilliant plan! You relax the law on the small fish. They are expendable and for every one caught ten new ones will rise. But the bigger fish are harder to replace. American ad hoc approach to clean the streets entirely of drugs is as utopic as it is not maintainable! THe simplicity is charming as (hopefully) effective. You can never get them all, so focus on the ones that do matter.... Hopefully Holland will follow suit, if it works of course

BAD!!!!

Now these folks will be spilling over into the USA and trying to change our laws because back home it was Okay to have dope.

Not necessarily...people already have marijuana and other illegal drugs here...its just that now it will be legal to have them...besides, they are already spilling over into the US...i dont know if you heard but the day without immigrants was a huge success. Numerous American businesses were forced to temporarily shut down. Now its just a matter of wether it was the right way to send the right message. I personally think this relaxing law is smart. You let the small frys get away with it and hit the big ones when they slip up. like ted said.

Bad, bad , bad.

Originally Posted by C/1Lt Henderson

I personally think this relaxing law is smart. You let the small frys get away with it and hit the big ones when they slip up. like ted said.

Here here Henderson.... In a long thread on legalisation of soft drugs the core of the issue was often missed (of course IMO). All the man-hours put into catching small fish is a waste, because they are replaced faster than you can say "gotcha". To fight these is just sympomatic, it is a short term solution, and no, can't lock all of them up. Focus on the big ones and the little ones have got nothing to deal.

This makes El Presidante Fox one of the Biggest Drug Dealers in the world, Their Government has no morals, no values and is completely out of control and should be concidered an enemy of the United States.

Right about now,Mirv, we need all the allies we can lay our hands on...With President Bush proposing military action on Iran...AND continuing fighting with insurgents and others among iraq...no way can we afford to make Mexico an enemy...btw..its Presidente...not presidante

Originally Posted by MIRV FAN

This makes El Presidante Fox one of the Biggest Drug Dealers in the world, Their Government has no morals, no values and is completely out of control and should be concidered an enemy of the United States.

Well, he's not selling is he? He merely chooses to cut down a tree by sawing at the trunk and not picking leaf for leaf. Secondly, be real; how many governments do you know who have real morals. It is always a question of time before the skeletons start to come out! Power corrupts everywhere!

American officials don't have morals, they just pretend they do so they can get re-elected.

Anyways, if this applies to Americans visiting Mexico, I know where I'm going next vacation!