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Mexico Close to Decriminalizing Drug Possession, But It's Not Enough ( 1783 reads) |
Sunday, June 21, 2009 (21:38:00) |
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The Los Angeles Times has a story today about Mexican legislation that will decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs. The bill, which has passed the Mexican Congress and currently sits on the desk of President Felipe Calderon, seems like a small step in the right direction, but will obviously do nothing to stop the warring and violent cartels that are terrorizing the nation.
Only legalizing and regulating drug production and sales can do that.
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| The bill says users caught with small amounts -- 5 grams of marijuana, 500 milligrams of cocaine -- clearly intended for "personal and immediate use" will not be criminally prosecuted. They will be told of available clinics, and encouraged to enter a rehabilitation program.
Up to 40 milligrams of methamphetamine, a synthetic and especially harmful drug, is permitted under the legislation, as is up to 50 milligrams of heroin. |
While it's nice that the Mexican government seems to be recognizing that drug abuse is a public health -- and not a criminal justice -- issue, this scheme will leave the cartels with all of their illegal profits in their pockets. Imagine if we merely decriminalized alcohol possession in the U.S. 75 years ago instead of repealing prohibition outright.
We'd still be at war with gangsters like Al Capone.
In any case, I hope that this Mexican legislation will help to keep the newly-prominent debate on the failure of the "war on drugs" going for months to come. |
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