Associated Press\nMEXICO CITY — Mexico's Congress approved a bill Friday that would legalize drug possession for personal use, decriminalizing the carrying of small quantities of marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and even heroin. The only step remaining is the signature of the president, whose office indicates he will sign it, despite the implications for \nthe war on drugs.\n\nCould This have an impact on Mexico's relationship with the United States ­Considering the vast numbers of vacationing students who visit Mexico, often to take advantage of its rarely enforced drinking age of 18.
207993
Yes it will make a big impact on our youths and current drug users, now they can go to mexico and get these drugs that can cause serious harm to individuals. yes the president of Mexico is doing this on purpose due to immigration reform we are proposing. i see in the future some major trouble for both countries.
236797
You ask a fair question. I agree with you- you would think that in an "advanced country" such as this that we would have learned something from the "Prohibition". \nFar too much of our jail and prison space has been filled up with people who's only crime was that they "got high". Yet prescription drug addicts and alcoholics are not sanctioned in this way. To me, it goes against what it says in our Constitution (regarding "cruel and unusual punishment") to lock people up for that. They are already hurting. We could really learn something from other countries who have legalized certain drugs. (Such as Holland, for instance.) After their legalization, crime rates dropped, tax-payers dollars were saved, families kept intact, substances being used became safer to use, and contrary to what some may believe, usage rates did not "go up". More money was spent on treatment, and the "black market" (along with all the other crime that is attached to that) was virtually eliminated. Why can't this country see the benefits of legalization? The "War on Drugs" is just as "ambiguous" as the "War on Terrorism".  We can't "win" it. We must learn and implement better ways of dealing with these issues. Or, both "wars" are going to leave us "bankrupt" and still without an "end" solution in sight.\n-Tera (time4u420@yahoo)
308149
As a Mexican living in Mexico (I'm an architect and make a pretty decent living here) I just can't believe you're so ignorant to ask this question. Of course that dealers do NOT own Mexico.\nyes we have drug dealing trouble, maybe the same as you in US. I really hope you can travel a little and visit my beautiful country, so you can verify by yourself the lies told by the media.
665695
We did do things like this until the democrats took over.  Once Clinton was in office, he put an end to these programs.  The reason is simple, he is a communist sympathizer and the communists in south american get most of their money from the drug trade.  Since that time, they have taken over much of south america.  If Bush wasn't such a weak president with no support for conservative issues, he would have re-instituted those programs.  He didn't. The result is the communist alliance of Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia.  They are allying themselves with Iran in a clearly hostile manner and are positioning themselves to take over Mexican politics.  All funded with drug money.
224107
There cannot be a victory for the U.S. "War on Drugs" until there is intelligent and comprehensive changes to the laws.  But more than that a change of attitudes moving drug use to a medical issue rather than leaving it a legal issue.  Now we criminalize drug use, filling up jails with addicts.  Social costs are extremely high.  If we instituted needle exchange programs, prescriptions for drugs including heroin to addicts who must register, and provided counseling and other support services to users on a multiagency level, then we would see crime organizations go bankrupt because customer base for illegal drugs would diminish, users could pursue a more normal existance, public health costs would go down, and it would steer users away from prison and crime.  check out the "Merceyside Model".
657103
Politics!!!! Politicians. Unfortunately,in politics,the rule of thumb is that only if caught and proved is it illegal. It has been a case of both sides of the border using the situation for mutual benefit. Peace.
361342
Ignoring the Constitutional complications that would arise from such a law, it would not be effective in keeping weapons out of the hands of the "bad guys."  It would, however, make it more difficult for "good guys" who are conscientious about obeying the law to defend themselves.\n\nYou point out that there are already laws against possession of drugs, and yet our prisons are filled with drug offenders.  This demonstrates that laws are not 100% effective at controlling behavior.  Even if all weapons were illegal, those who want them would find ways to get them.  Unfortunately, a large percentage of "those who want them" will be the bad guys out to do harm.\n\nThere will always be people who have weapons.  If you feel threatened by them, you might want to study how to defend yourself against them.  Warning:  this might mean you will have to take up a weapon yourself.  But at least you won't have to be scared anymore.\n\nIt is also important to teach children what to do in the presence of weapons.  It is far easier to teach your children not to touch weapons than it is to prevent them from ever coming in contact with one.
373896
No, meth is the drug of choice for politicians now. Coke is too expensive. Thats also why they are slow to do anything about the mexican illegals...it would stop their supply.
328934
In general, yes, it is an act of war. The exception is the Mexican Government. They are invading (no doubt about that) and the Mexican government is behind it. Our own politicians (many many of them) are behind it. This is what is puzzling. Why are many of our Governors and even Bush doing nothing..even after his so called speech last night...There is a hidden agendy that I cannot figure out. I do know that Mexico is invading and its goal, as it has done in some of the U.S/. southern cities, taken over the governments. I know that is their intent.. to flood the states with voters who will eventually vote in their own people and then they would establish laws to fit ONLY the Mexicans. The naive/stupid Americans with their SUVs d not know what hit them and they will NOT know until the country is in their hands..,the hands of the Mexican Government
402670
I think so, for a couple of reasons.  \n\n1) Teen drug use is lower in countries like Amsterdam, which have legalized it. \n2) More law enforcemnet money can be spent on the "harder" drugs like meth, coke, herion, etc.--I consider those drugs much more of a danger to society.  This would take a burden off our jails too. \n3)  Decriminalizng Marijuana would give many minor drug offenders a shot at a better life--FYI, you are unable to get any financial aid for college if you are any type of drug offender, even a Misdemeanor!!  That only helps to continue the cycle of poverty/drug use/dealing, etc. \n4)  Tax the crap out of it and we could pay off our national debt! \n5) Marijuana has the potential to be an effective treatment for many people with various ailments, such as glaucoma, cancer, etc.\n\nCool class you are taking, never written papers like that before.
640048
Another division or so and we might actually become effective at stopping both the human traffic and drugs. I think people or underestimating the positive effect this could have against the drug insurgency. Mexico has always been a major player and the drugs have contributed to the immigration problem.
462880
It is obviously a very good idea for Mexico, since it effectively will do away with our southern border, which is one reason why Bush isn't exactly enthusiastic about the fence ... which will have to be dismantled in 2010, if the spp agreement comes into full fruition ... I really can't understand how anyone would want to get rid of the United States as we see it, but that will be the inevitable outcome ... and like everything else, this one has been organized behind the backs of the American people, who by and large don't know what shenanigans take place since it never seems to be discussed ... and if you think voting Dems in will change it, not a hope ...
193978
No, I don't think there's any correlation.  The type of work that illegal immigrants do, precludes having a lifestyle that includes drugs.  Once an affront to your civil liberties is taken away, and we continue like sheep to comply, it's never given back.
424491
Drugs are not legal in Mexico even tho there are drugs in mexico. What is really amazing tho is that the same cops that will arrest a person in mexico for illegal drugs is also collecting big money from the ones selling the drugs. Prostitution is not legal either it is only allowed . in other words when the cops want to they can arrest someone for prostitution and when they have better things to do they could careless if they are doing it in the street in an alley some where .  Making drugs legal as in amsterdam would  stop alot of crime and lower everyones taxes since there wouldnt be so many people in jail and there would be less addicts since there wouldnt be such a want to be doing drugs. It would probably break hollywood since all the drug movies would be no big thing any more and then all the drug cartels would be a thing of the past and the drug runners would be out of work  along with  all the hit men and then the gov. wouldnt be making all the billions on the drug money they rake in doing drug busts. THe US is sadly built on crime and the criminal minded and the assurance that there will always be a fresh supply of new people to feed the kitty. Prostitution and drugs is to big of a business to allow it to go legal. Prostitutes and getting high has been around since the begining of time and will never stop this is why it is illegal because it provides constant guarunteed cash coming in for alot of people , the people that make the rules.    Heres proof as to what I am saying about the big guys.   The people of california voted and made marijuana legal but the  big guys said oh hell no we cant have that  we will loose to much money if that happens so even tho the people of california voted yes the federal gov. says no way .   ALl the police departments are given a budget by the big guys and if a police department makes a big big multi billion dollar bust with real estate and the whole 9 yards where does all that cash go.>? sure not to be spent by that police department. It goes to the federal gov. and they still only recieve thier budget. San diego makes billions in drug busts but yet all the cops are leaving the force to go other places because they wont get a raise for the next five years. You see the ones sitting behind a desk in office no way will give up all that cash they get to even share some with the ones who are in reality making it for them and protecting the country.  I say it would make things better but it will never happen.
21083
The only thing I have to say is that alcohol is a very negative substance... if you look at it logically, alcohol is a downer.  May - Jane should be legal... 40 years ago.  Alcohol was made illeagal in 1919 ratified in 1920 repealed in 1933  The main motivation for this was easy taxation by the government.  History shows that if this is any indication to lagalize Marijuana, then the tax base would be sufficient to fund the war of the harder drugs that you mentioned.
396013
I think that people have done enough harm to make sure marijuana stays criminalized by their actions. There's a lot of people that carry the title of being a pothead as a badge of honor or whatever. One of the biggest reasons I ever laid off smoking marijuana was because I saw so much disrespect to the herb. I believe that it's the oldest healer that we have around. It has been used to help people relax, reach to a higher being of their own understanding in many Native American tribes as well as Aztecs and many other primal tribes in the world, it's also used to heal. My mother suffers from arthritis, she soaks some marijuana in rubbing alcohol, then applies an alcohol soaked rag on the part of her aching joint (no pun intended) and the pain is subdued. I think that the reason in is not criminalized id because it's an herb. People would grow it and use it to their own consumption. My only consern with that is the lack of responsibility of certain people that would use it. I know a lot of kids out there love having that whole grown-up facade and think that smoking your brain off is so cool, but they fail to see the other of side of smoking or eating marijuana, the doors it can open to your subconcious and mentality in all it's complex existence. I don't think it will be decriminalized because it really would be a hard thing to keep a tax on and if people can get away with buying it and distributing it now, they most definitely will if it's decriminalized all together.
7718
If you mean the US federal government, then the answer is clearly no.  Since George Bush took office in 2000, there has been a large shifting of DEA funds focused on harder drugs such as heroin and cocaine to marijuana.  They have also attempted to pass harsher penalties against marijuana use and have passed a bill that takes away students' eligibility for financial aid if they are arrested for marijuana possession.