Mexican Lawmakers to Propose Drug Bill

Feb 12, 8:11 PM EST

By MARK STEVENSON
Associated Press Writer

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexican lawmakers said Monday they will revive a watered-down version of a 2006 drug bill criticized by the United States because it would have effectively decriminalized possession of marijuana and other drugs.

The new measure, to be presented in a joint Senate committee Wednesday, drops the previous proposal for decriminalizing possession of small amounts for all drug "consumers."

It also reduces the amount of drugs that can be considered possession for personal use to a single dose.

"An error was made, unfortunately, in the lower house, adding the (exemption for) consumers," said Sen. Alejandro Gonzalez Alcocer, president of the Senate Judiciary committee.

The original bill passed Congress last year but was vetoed by then-President Vicente Fox, after Washington urged lawmakers "to review the legislation urgently, to avoid the perception that drug use would be tolerated in Mexico."

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Mexico wants to partially decriminalize drugs
Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:39 AM ET

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Felipe Calderon's government wants to decriminalize first-time possession of small amounts of drugs in a move likely to draw criticism from U.S. anti-narcotics officials.

Under the proposed legislation, users found for the first time with 2 grams (0.07 ounces) or less of marijuana and small amounts of other drugs ranging from cocaine to methamphetamine would not be prosecuted.