Mexico President Refuses to Sign Drug Bill

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/mexico_drugs;_ylt=AvJBHzaGRdjU7JXwmDaenlys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

Mexico President Refuses to Sign Drug Bill

By MARK STEVENSON, Associated Press Writer 24 minutes ago

MEXICO CITY - Mexican President
Vicente Fox refused to sign a drug decriminalization bill Wednesday, hours after U.S. officials warned the plan could encourage "drug tourism."
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Fox sent the measure back to Congress for changes, but his office did not mention the U.S. criticism.

"Without underestimating the progress made on the issue, and with sensitivity toward the opinions expressed by various sectors of society, the administration has decided to suggest changes," according to a statement from his office.

Fox said he will ask "Congress to make the needed corrections to make it absolutely clear in our country, the possession of drugs and their consumption are, and will continue to be, a criminal offense."

[muntrv]

1. Fine. They'll just go to Canada.

Our neighbors to the north decriminalized marijuana.

[ThsMchneKilsFascists]

21. nope, hasn't happened

The minority gov't that was elected in Canada in January nixed the proposed legislation.

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/apr/06040401.html

.

[lastknowngood]

2. That is the final nail in Fox's coffin for reelection! He looks like the

shrub's lapdog, which he is.

[rodeodance]

4. now both Fox news and Mexico's Fox are Bush lapdogs.

[arcos]

8. Fox cannot run, and is not running, for reelection nt

[judaspriestess]

29. GOOD RIDDANCE

He has done next to nothing for Mexico.

[rodeodance]

3. the US weighed in on a Mexican internal affair:

On Tuesday, Fox's spokesman had called the bill "an advance" and pledged the president would sign it. But the measure, passed Friday by Congress, drew a storm of criticism because it eliminates criminal penalties possession of small amounts of heroin, methamphetamines and PCP, as well as marijuana and cocaine.

Weighing in, the U.S. government Wednesday expressed a rare public objection to an internal Mexican political development, saying anyone caught with illegal drugs in Mexico should be prosecuted or given mandatory drug treatment.

"U.S. officials ... urged Mexican representatives to review the legislation urgently, to avoid the perception that drug use would be tolerated in Mexico, and to prevent drug tourism," U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Judith Bryan said.

There are concerns the measure could increase drug use by border visitors and U.S. students who flock to Mexico on vacation.

[madrchsod]

5. this will make fox even more popular with the mexican people

can you say "good bye mr fox" in spainish...no he`s not the usa little doggie--you know those little dogs that fashionable women can carry in purses.

[Theres-a]

6. Adios Senor Fox?

[w4rma]

7. Stick a fork in Fox. He's done. (nt)

[rodeodance]

11. Maybe he is not running? " the outgoing Fox" see here.

.....The legislature has adjourned for the summer, and when it comes back, it will have an entirely new lower house and one-third new Senate members following the July 2 elections, which will also make the outgoing Fox a lame duck.

[harpboy_ak]

18. Mexican presidents are limited to one term

by the Mexican constitution. Just one six year term and they're gone.

For years, the PRI would select the next guy to have his chance to rip off the country for six years, due to ballot stuffing and other electoral corruption.

Fox was the first Opposition president in over 60 years, but has not made much headway into the rampant corruption.

[rodeodance]

9. "meant to cover only recognized drug addicts" umm...

....Bryan said the U.S. government wants Mexico "to ensure that all persons found in possession of any quantity of illegal drugs be prosecuted or be sent into mandatory drug treatment programs."

The legislature has adjourned for the summer, and when it comes back, it will have an entirely new lower house and one-third new Senate members following the July 2 elections, which will also make the outgoing Fox a lame duck.

However, Sen. Jorge Zermeno, of Fox's conservative National Action Party — a supporter of the bill — said he thought Congress would be open to changing the legislation to delete a clause that extends to all "consumers" the exemption from prosecution that was originally meant to cover only recognized drug addicts.

"The word 'consumer' can be eliminated so that the only exemption clause would be for drug addicts," Zermeno told The Associated Press. "There's still time to get this through."

[ovidsen]

10. Much ado over very little (drugs)

I can sort of see the pluses to this decriminalization law. It might (?) free up the federales to spend more time on the traffickers as opposed to nickel-and-dime turistas.

And it's almost (ALMOST) funny hearing the hysteria from American bluenoses who see their sons and daughters flocking to Cabo, Cancun, even Tijuana for unlimited debauchery.

But really, folks.... the amounts of drugs that would be 'legalized' are so tiny!

1/2 gram of coke, less than 1/5 ounce pot, a pinch of smack.... why bother? This artificial window won't make drugs at the retail level any more or less available.

It kind of reminds me (in terms of scope) of Frist's $100 gasoline rebate plan. In the great scheme of things, it's a waste of time.

And America's sons and daughters will still be toking snorting and dropping while they work on their tan lines and hone their tequila drinking skills every time they're south of the border.

[rodeodance]

12. but even tiny amounts decriminalized are symbolic

[sweetheart]

28. Those amounts are enough

Using drugs is not a crime, it is an unenumerated right in the bill
of rights, one that was common knowledge when the constitution was
drafted.

The drugs war is a war to criminalize the poor, make no mistake, it
is wicked, and all who are involved in it, corrupted.

[raccoon]

31. Absolutely, and the "drug war" is a way to disenfranchise blacks.

"The drugs war is a war to criminalize the poor, make no mistake, it
is wicked, and all who are involved in it, corrupted."

[mile53]

13. Fox Caves In To Administration

Fox caved in to intense pressure from the a adiminstration. It seems we are trying to screw up both sides of the fence.

[IndyJones]

26. Mexico's side is already screwed up. Why do you think their citizens are

flooding to the USA?

[redqueen]

33. We're trying to exacerbate that screwedupness. n/t

[tuvor]

14. Mexico's Fox won't sign drug law

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Vicente Fox will not sign widely criticized narcotics legislation until Congress removes parts of the law that decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs, his office said on Wednesday.

The president's office said the law would be sent back to Congress for revision.

"In our country the possession of drugs and their consumption are, and will continue to be, crimes," the office said in a statement.

The approval of the legislation, passed by Congress last week, surprised Washington, which counts on Mexico's support in its war against gangs that move massive quantities of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines through Mexico to U.S. consumers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/03/AR2006050302265.html

[stellanoir]

15. the war on drugs is a total ruse

this is just a mere part of it IMHO.

[theophilus]

16. Wasn't it reported yesterday that he WOULD sign? Then the US

urges Mexico "don't do it". This happens. Arbusto must have tightened the screws. Maybe we can hear from some of our Mexican DUers on this. Was this a reversal, or was Fox against it all along?

[raccoon]

32. I think so too. Uncle Sam twisted his arm. nt

[bullimiami]

17. vinny. w. youre f&*(ing kidding me right? got me?

[stevedeshazer]

19. Ironic, since The Decider is a known drug abuser

The self-hating American Right got to Fox and "persuaded" him to review his stance.

OxyContin Rush will have an intersting job spinning this one....

[genieroze]

20. What a chicken, he caved.

[HuffleClaw]

22. funny how he JUMPED to do BUSH'S bidding

although, he could have used that as a ploy to trade for that immigration amnesty thing.

[IndyJones]

27. That's only fair. After all, Bush does Fox's bidding.

[redqueen]

34. aaahaahaahahahahahahha...

how so?

or was that the joke it seems to be?

[Nutmegger]

23. FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY!!!

TERRA! TERRA!! TERRA!!!

[WhiteTara]

24. Under U.S. Pressure, Mexico President Seeks Review of Drug Law

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/04/world/americas/04mexico.html
:grr:
MEXICO CITY, May 3 — After intense pressure from the United States, President Vicente Fox has asked Congress to reconsider a law it passed last week that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs as part of a larger effort to crack down on street-level dealing.

In a statement issued late Wednesday, Mr. Fox said the law should be changed "to make it absolutely clear that in our country the possession of drugs and their consumption are and continue to be crimes."

Officials from the State Department and the White House's drug control office met with the Mexican ambassador in Washington Monday and expressed grave reservations about the law, saying it would draw tourists to Mexico who want to take drugs and would lead to more consumption, said Tom Riley, a spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Later in the day, Mexico's chief of the Federal Police, Eduardo Medina Mora, tried to clarify the law's intent, saying its main purpose was to enlist help from the state and local police forces. Until now, selling drugs has been solely a federal offense, and the agents charged with investigating traffickers are stretched thin, he said.

Mr. Medina Mora, the main architect of the first measure, which Mr. Fox sent to Congress in January, said it was true the law would make it a misdemeanor to possess small quantities of illegal drugs, but he added that people caught with those drugs would still have to go before a judge and would face a range of penalties. "Mexico is not, has not been and will not be a refuge for anyone who wants to consume drugs," Mr. Medina Mora said.

[Nutmegger]

25. This was a bill that passed the Mexican Congress!

So much for "Freedom and DEOMCRACY"!!!

[Peace Patriot]

30. This will just mean more votes for Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador,

the leftist mayor of Mexico City, in the presidential election. He's going to win! The leftist revolution in Latin America is moving north--Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, Venezuela, soon Peru, then Mexico, then...

But they've worked much harder on TRANSPARENT elections than we have. Much work to do here!

The times they are a-changin'!!!!

[redqueen]

35. YES!

That's a HUGE silver lining!

:bounce: