Legal Commentary

Mexico Decriminalizes Drug Possession For Personal Use

By Jeralyn

Mexico's new law decriminalizing possession of small amounts of drugs, including marijuana, heroin and cocaine, goes into effect today. The law also provides for drug treatment at the Government's expense.

The law sets out maximum “personal use” amounts for drugs, also including LSD and methamphetamine. People detained with those quantities will no longer face criminal prosecution; the law goes into effect on Friday.

Anyone caught with drug amounts under the personal-use limit will be encouraged to seek treatment, and for those caught a third time treatment is mandatory — although no penalties for noncompliance are specified.

The Mexican Congress passed a law to decriminalize drugs in 2006. Another version passed in 2007. Mexico is smart to realize that taking some pressure off users will free up resources to pursue large-scale traffickers. Will the U.S. get a clue?

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 21, 2009 (boomark / email).