Mexico set to legalize personal amounts of pot, cocaine, he

[Phlegm]

roin. From Associated Press:

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- Mexico's Congress on Friday approved a bill decriminalizing possession of small quantities of marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and even heroin for personal use, prompting U.S. criticism that the measure could harm anti-drug efforts.

The only step remaining was the signature of President Vicente Fox, whose office indicated he would sign the bill, which Mexican officials hope will allow police to focus on large-scale trafficking operations rather than minor drug busts.

"This law gives police and prosecutors better legal tools to combat drug crimes that do so much damage to our youth and children," said Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar.

If Fox signs the measure and it becomes law, it could strain the two countries' cooperation in anti-drug efforts -- and increase the vast numbers of vacationing students who visit Mexico.

Oscar Aguilar, a Mexico City political analyst, said Fox appeared almost certain to sign the law -- his office proposed it, and his party supports it -- and that he had apparently been betting that it would not draw much notice.

"That's probably why they (the senators) passed it the way they did, in the closing hours of the final session," Aguilar said. "He's going to sign it. ... He's not going to abandon his party two months before the (presidential) election."

U.S. officials scrambled to come up with a response to the bill. One U.S. diplomat who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly said "we're still studying the legislation, but any effort to decriminalize illegal drugs would not be helpful."

The bill, passed 53-26 with one abstention by Mexico's Senate in the early morning hours, already has been approved in the lower house of Congress. It also stiffens penalties for trafficking and possession of drugs -- even small quantities -- by government employees or near schools, and maintains criminal penalties for drug sales.

The bill says criminal charges will no longer be brought for possession of up to 25 milligrams of heroin, 5 grams of marijuana (about one-fifth of an ounce, or about four joints), or 0.5 grams of cocaine -- the equivalent of about 4 "lines," or half the standard street-sale quantity (though half-size packages are becoming more common).

"No charges will be brought against ... addicts or consumers who are found in possession of any narcotic for personal use," according to the Senate bill, which also lays out allowable quantities for an array of other drugs, including LSD, ecstasy and amphetamines.

Some of the amounts are eye-popping: Mexicans would be allowed to possess more than two pounds of peyote, the button-size hallucinogenic cactus used in some native Indian religious ceremonies.

Mexican law now leaves open the possibility of dropping charges against people caught with drugs if they are considered addicts and if "the amount is the quantity necessary for personal use." But the exemption is not automatic. The new bill drops the "addict" requirement -- automatically allowing any "consumers" to have drugs -- and sets out specific allowable quantities.

Mexican officials declined to explain how the law would work -- including whether drug use in public would be tolerated, or discouraged by other means.

The law was defended by Mexican legislators -- and greeted with glee by U.S. legalization advocates.

"We can't close our eyes to this reality," said Sen. Jorge Zermeno, of Fox's conservative National Action Party. "We cannot continue to fill our jails with people who have addictions."

Ethan Nadelmann, director of the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance, said the bill removed "a huge opportunity for low-level police corruption." In Mexico, police often release people detained for minor drug possession, in exchange for bribes.

Selling all these drugs would remain illegal under the proposed law, unlike the Netherlands, where the sale of marijuana for medical use is legal and it can be bought with a prescription in pharmacies. While Dutch authorities look the other way regarding the open sale of cannabis in designated coffee shops -- something Mexican police seem unlikely to do -- the Dutch have zero tolerance for heroin and cocaine. In both countries, commercial growing of marijuana is outlawed.

In Colombia, a 1994 court ruling decriminalized personal possession of small amounts of cocaine, heroin and other drugs.

The effects in Mexico could be significant, given that the country is rapidly becoming a drug-consuming nation as well as a shipment point for traffickers, and given the number of U.S. students who flock to border cities or resorts like Cancun and Acapulco on vacation.

"This is going to increase addictions in Mexico," said Ulisis Bon, a drug treatment expert in Tijuana, where heroin use is rampant. "A lot of Americans already come here to buy medications they can't get up there ... Just imagine, with heroin."

[Tikker]

now they just need to tax that shit, and mexico will become the richest country in the world

[DangerPaul]

I know it will make my vacations there more enjoyable.

[Sorina S]

Well that seals the deal, Im cashin in my chips and buying this;

http://www.cabopulmohouse.com/

Hasta la vista, baby~SS

[Lyion]

We really should just annex Mexico. Half its workforce is here. We pay most of their medical bills.

If We Americanize their markets, and start selling their open real estate, it'd sustain our economy for the next 50 years.

[Sorina S]

We really should just annex Mexico. Half its workforce is here. We pay most of their medical bills.

If We Americanize their markets, and start selling their open real estate, it'd sustain our economy for the next 50 years.

Not to mention their oil. Thing is were busy doin that to Iraq right now, I spose we'll get around to doin that in Mexico sooner or later.

[mofish]

Good for Mexico.

That now makes every country in the world I think besides North Korea and Iran more progressive than the US.

[Gidan]

Well that seals the deal, Im cashin in my chips and buying this;

http://www.cabopulmohouse.com/

Hasta la vista, baby~SS

I wish I had the $$ to buy a place like that in the middle of no where.

[Arlos]

Well, Gidan, there's always the option of buying your own private island. Some of them are surprisingly affordable. (some on that list go for less than what my parents sold their house for here in the bay area.)

http://www.vladi-private-islands.de/sal ... elist.html

-Arlos

[Sorina S]

You don't? In this economy? Get on it son there is money to be made. I don't know your circumstances but I could buy that place twice and have a little left over. Thing is 10 years ago I was livin hand to mouth. Sorry if I seem braggart, but seriously there is no valid reason to live in poverty in this country right now.

If you have an education and a halfway decent job (I'm a landlord and a truck driver) there is no reason you cannot accumulate a net worth of a million within 10 years. In fact, that's on the low end. Everybodies doin it man. Look around you.

[Narrock]

Even truck drivers make good money nowadays. I just saw an employment ad for truck drivers with experience for $65k/yr. You have to spend a lot of time away from your family though. The other negative about it is you have to deal with the stigma of being a "truck driver." On the plus side, you get to see a lot of the country with a job like that.

[Gidan]

Truck Driving can pay damn well.

I would love to own a nice private island

[Dangel]

Good for Mexico.

That now makes every country in the world I think besides North Korea and Iran more progressive than the US.

[Sorina S]

Drivin truck can be a sacrifice it's true. But like anything else, it's just a means to an end, and I hope to end in that place I linked. If I was born in Ethiopia, I'd be doin the same work and more just to feed my family...but I wasn't born in Ethiopia. If you're an American, don't ever cry the blues to me. You know what I mean ^,~

All the best~

[Narrock]

Drivin truck can be a sacrifice it's true. But like anything else, it's just a means to an end, and I hope to end in that place I linked. If I was born in Ethiopia, I'd be doin the same work and more just to feed my family...but I wasn't born in Ethiopia. If you're an American, don't ever cry the blues to me. You know what I mean ^,~

All the best~

I'll bet it's a bitch to chain those pigs up for a winter mountain run.

[araby]

Hey, my best friend and I were just looking at homes for sale in Mexico the other day, (on the pacific coast) and as soon as I read the title to this thread it's the first thing I thought of posting, and sorina beat me to it.

not necessarily because they are making drugs legal, but because we figure, they're all coming here...hell we'll go there. on the coast here, the immigrants are everywhere. I asked her-she lives in my bum-fuck hometown 100 miles inland-if they are dealing with very many there and she said yes. I don't even understand why one leaves mexico for sumter. but okay.

[Sorina S]

Drivin truck can be a sacrifice it's true. But like anything else, it's just a means to an end, and I hope to end in that place I linked. If I was born in Ethiopia, I'd be doin the same work and more just to feed my family...but I wasn't born in Ethiopia. If you're an American, don't ever cry the blues to me. You know what I mean ^,~

All the best~

I'll bet it's a bitch to chain those pigs up for a winter mountain run.

Well Min if you're testin me like that lemme tell what my worst run was. I pick a load of 'Lysol' products in Bel Mead NJ, the rig scaled out at ~78950 lbs. So I run that across country, my destination is Phoenix.

The most fun comes on the last leg of the drive, droppin down I 17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix. Its pretty much 6% grade all the way with a few bigger hills now and then and runnin down that hill lookin out the rear view watchin sparks flyin out your brakes can be a little disconserting. And when you hit the bottom of that hill with that long ass turn to the west and you got no brakes to speak of...well, it's nice to hit the desert floor. This was a regular run of mine.

What you're talkin bout I only did once. Luck of the draw I guess. I 80 in winter. Yea it's a bitch 9% grade for what seems like forever. Only time I ever saw my steer brakes cook. I coulda done better but on the road, you live and learn. You know how it is, the stigma of bein a truck driver. heh...

Just a word about truck drivers. Everythimg you buy, eat and touch was delivered by a truck driver. If there were no truck drivers, you would have nothing. And you'd have no prospect of getting anything, anytime soon...heh the stigma of being a truck driver? Fuck you. SS~

[Narrock]

Drivin truck can be a sacrifice it's true. But like anything else, it's just a means to an end, and I hope to end in that place I linked. If I was born in Ethiopia, I'd be doin the same work and more just to feed my family...but I wasn't born in Ethiopia. If you're an American, don't ever cry the blues to me. You know what I mean ^,~

All the best~

I'll bet it's a bitch to chain those pigs up for a winter mountain run.

Well Min if you're testin me like that lemme tell what my worst run was. I pick a load of 'Lysol' products in Bel Mead NJ, the rig scaled out at ~78950 lbs. So I run that across country, my destination is Phoenix.

The most fun comes on the last leg of the drive, droppin down I 17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix. Its pretty much 6% grade all the way with a few bigger hills now and then and runnin down that hill lookin out the rear view watchin sparks flyin out your brakes can be a little disconserting. And when you hit the bottom of that hill with that long ass turn to the west and you got no brakes to speak of...well, it's nice to hit the desert floor. This was a regular run of mine.

What you're talkin bout I only did once. Luck of the draw I guess. I 80 in winter. Yea it's a bitch 9% grade for what seems like forever. Only time I ever saw my steer brakes cook. I coulda done better but on the road, you live and learn. You know how it is, the stigma of bein a truck driver. heh...

Just a word about truck drivers. Everythimg you buy, eat and touch was delivered by a truck driver. If there were no truck drivers, you would have nothing. And you'd have no prospect of getting anything, anytime soon...heh the stigma of being a truck driver? Fuck you. SS~

Great point!

Don't take it personally about the stigma of being a truck driver. I've just seen too many of them that are toothless, chain-smokin, crank-snortin, foul-mouthed hillbillies. I know you're not like that, but let's be honest... your profession isn't very intellectually stimulating or demanding.

I do know a guy from my church who is a truck driver. He hauls material away from construction sites and makes about $70k a year. He's a good family man and provides for his family. That speaks volumes about a person, and is ultimately what is most important. Heck, he makes more money than I do right now, so I'm not making fun of people like him. He's got a nice house on 3.5 acres, 2 brand new vehicles (Toyata Tundra for him and Toyota Highlander for his wife), a pretty wife, and 2 cute kids. He's got his *&^% together.

[Narrock]

Ok here's some good, honest, hard-workin, respectable truck drivers:


http://jobsearch.monster.com/getjob.asp ... =352&cy=us

[Sorina S]

I didn't take offense bro. I know you're a nail bendin working man too. Yea there's more than a few of the good ole boys out there on the road still. Honestly though I think they're quickly becoming the legendary stereotype and not the status quo.

So no worries. Noone can disrespect me for what I do for a living as long as I don't disrespect myself for it. btw In my less than intellecually stimulating proffesion I get to listen to modern jazz, talk radio and books on tape all day long. Not to mention easing down the road at 65mph and the wind bites my cheek on the wing~ It is what you make of it eh?

All the best~SS

[Narrock]

Attitude is everything.

[Darcler]

You don't? In this economy? Get on it son there is money to be made. I don't know your circumstances but I could buy that place twice and have a little left over. Thing is 10 years ago I was livin hand to mouth. Sorry if I seem braggart, but seriously there is no valid reason to live in poverty in this country right now.

If you have an education and a halfway decent job (I'm a landlord and a truck driver) there is no reason you cannot accumulate a net worth of a million within 10 years. In fact, that's on the low end. Everybodies doin it man. Look around you.

I'd hardly say we are living in poverty. We live quite comfortably, thank you.

But cost of living and such. We have a nice house here for $120ish, and the jobs around here pay enough for us to do so.
Not much in ol' Meheco would pay us enough to live there in the nice $400k home.
Unless we kill my mother inlaw and take her insurance money. Then we can do it. AND buy own our island!

[Minrott]

Drivin truck can be a sacrifice it's true. But like anything else, it's just a means to an end, and I hope to end in that place I linked. If I was born in Ethiopia, I'd be doin the same work and more just to feed my family...but I wasn't born in Ethiopia. If you're an American, don't ever cry the blues to me. You know what I mean

wtf I agree with Sorina

[Shannan]

Im moving to Mexico! Anyone wanna join me?:teehee:

[Narrock]

I hate druggies.