I would guess it would become safer because of this change in the law. It is dangerous when armed gangs of criminals are fighting over control of territory in which to peddle their drugs. The drugs themselves may be cut with substances that are far from safe. Once legal entities are dealing the drugs of a regulated quality, gangs, guns, and crime seem likely to drop.
Except for the fact that Mexico ISN'T progressive. It's a poor country with a terribly corrupt government. This is an act of desparation on the legislature's part to unclog their legal and law enforcement system, not a sophisticated policy move. If this were to happen in the US I would guess that the results would be mixed, but certainly not as bad as doomsayers predict. I have no idea what will happen in an impoverished country like Mexico.
This isn't Scandinavia we're talking about here. These are the same legal entities that are among the most corrupt in the world. There isn't much regulation of any kind going on in Mexico. Over half the Mexican population reports having to pay bribes to avoid problems with the authorities (pg 14). That is just two notches down from Nigeria, whose primary growth industry is internet email scamming. Even in the past 12 months 31-45% of the population reports having paid a bribe (pg 11). Transparency International's Global Corruption Report
Whoaahhh... cut down on the condescension, dude. I think that you overestimate drug usage skyrocketing after legalization, and greatly underestimate the resources (police force, money, time, overloaded courtrooms and jails) absorbed by arresting and prosecuting users. This is separate from the problem of treating drug usage as a criminal problem instead of a social/rehab issue. And that's separate from the fact that prohibition doesn't work. If you cared so much about addicts as you claim, why do you think they should all be put in jail? Tough love? How about instead, we scrap a system that doesn't work and find a system that does?
I understand that pot is not a physically addictive drug, but what is it about pot that causes folks to use it even knowing that they may/will have to take employment related drug tests? Users know that the traces of pot can be contained within your body for around 30 days yet they continue to use. Are these just incredibly stupid people or people that don't care or what?
And I've been in the work force for 30 years and never had to take a drug test, but that doesn't negate the fact that many companies have random drug tests in place and in order to get hired you may have to take a drug test. My son has had to take drug tests in order to get jobs at Target, the mortgage industry and the banking industry
You're talking legalization. This is decriminalization to an extent. Possession of small amounts stops being a crime. The distribution network (your armed gangs of criminals) stay the same.
Awesome. I can't wait for it to get legalized up here, then we'll have another industry for people who can't manage their vices to sue!
Yikes, you are correct. That is a good point. I guess the only positives of that is that it would free up some law enforcement resources, courts, and prisons. But it could add plenty of additional problems.
Why am I not suprised? We're talking about the same country in which it is legal to have sex with a 12 year old.
Well may be there are simpily many more adults drinking than doing hard drugs in this country. And kids usually dont have cars to drive around. Or may be alcohol is legal and the others not. BobFinn's point is totally valid. We dont live in isolation. What each individual does to him or herself do MATTER to the society as a whole. It is a balance, or even struggle depending on your perspective, between individual rights and the common good for the society. Just my 2 cents.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's president will approve a law that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of mar1juana, cocaine and other drugs to concentrate on fighting violent narco gangs, the government said on Tuesday. President Vicente Fox will not oppose the bill, passed by senators last week, presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar told reporters, despite likely tensions with the United States. "The president is going to sign that law, there would be no objection," he said. "It appears to be a good law and an advance in combating narcotics trafficking." The approval of the legislation, passed earlier by the lower house of Congress, surprised Washington, which counts on Mexico's support in its war against gangs that move massive quantities of cocaine, heroin, mar1juana and methamphetamines through Mexico to U.S. consumers. Under the law, police will not penalize people for possessing up to 5 grams of mar1juana, 5 grams of opium, 25 milligrams of heroin. Nor does the law penalize possession of 500 milligrams of cocaine -- enough for a few lines. The legal changes will also decriminalize the possession of limited quantities of LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, amphetamines, ecstasy and peyote -- a psychotropic cactus found in Mexico's northern deserts. Hundreds of people, including many police officers, have been killed in Mexico in the past year as drug cartels battle for control of lucrative smuggling routes into the United States. The violence has raged mostly in northern Mexico but in recent months has spread south to cities such as vacation resort Acapulco. While likely to complicate relations with the U.S. government, the legislation has drawn relatively little attention from the media in Mexico, where drug use is less common than in the United States. Aguilar did not say when Fox would sign the bill. Under current law, it is up to local judges and police to decide on a case-by-case basis whether people should be prosecuted for possessing small quantities of drugs. --- I'm thinking of moving to South Padre Island and starting a "Coffee Shop" in Mexico for Americans! Kinda like what you would see in Amsterdam, except American style with a larger menu and the ability to Grande size your "Order"... Think about the Special "Energy" drinks or mellowing "Brownies"...
I understand that Fox did this under pressure from the U. S. government. Word on the street is that hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants are already heading back across the border.
