# Mexico decriminalizes personal drug stashes; what effect in/on the US?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-decriminalizes-personal-drug-stashes-what-effect-in-on-the-us/507216>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 21, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-decriminalizes-personal-drug-stashes-what-effect-in-on-the-us/507216 "2009-08-21T17:39:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-decriminalizes-personal-drug-stashes-what-effect-in-on-the-us/507216/1 "2009-08-21T17:39:07Z")

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Well, it seems that [Mexico has decriminlized small amounts of drugs](http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=8379990).

> [@](#):
>
> Prosecutors said the new law sets clear limits that keep Mexico’s corruption-prone police from shaking down casual users and offers addicts free treatment to keep growing domestic drug use in check.
> 
> “This is not legalization, this is regulating the issue and giving citizens greater legal certainty,” said Bernardo Espino del Castillo of the attorney general’s office.
> 
> The new law sets out maximum “personal use” amounts for drugs, also including LSD and methamphetamine.

The third time someone was caught, however, there would be mandatoy, not just recommended, treatment, so it’s not entirely a free pass for drug use, at least not for the indiscreet.

What effect will this have on things here in the US?  
Will this get the ball rolling for similar enactments on our side of the border, or will it somehow tighten Americans resolve to “win” the war on drugs?

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**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-decriminalizes-personal-drug-stashes-what-effect-in-on-the-us/507216/2 "2009-08-21T17:41:11Z")

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> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> Well, it seems that [Mexico has decriminlized small amounts of drugs](http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=8379990).  
> The third time someone was caught, however, there would be mandatoy, not just recommended, treatment, so it’s not entirely a free pass for drug use, at least not for the indiscreet.
> 
> What effect will this have on things here in the US?  
> Will this get the ball rolling for similar enactments on our side of the border, or will it somehow tighten Americans resolve to “win” the war on drugs?

I think they are just a vanguard in the way things are moving generally. My Catholic Democrat Grandmother and my Republican Father both think the war on drugs is stupid.

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**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-decriminalizes-personal-drug-stashes-what-effect-in-on-the-us/507216/3 "2009-08-25T00:11:16Z")

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I think the part about “greater legal certainty” is the important one. Many places in the US, possession of small amounts of many drugs is not prosecuted unless the police/DA wants to anil someone to the wall and can’t make anything else stick. For example, someone that they “know” is a dealer, but they can’t prove. I’m guessing from the quote that Mexico is similar, with the added bonus of having to bribe the police.

I’m in favor of clarity and consistency in our justice system, so I really don’t like laws that are applied unevenly and effectively used to get around requirements to prosecute the actual offense. If possession and use of drugs is really that bad (and I don’t think it is), then we should prosecute it every time. And if it’s not, then we should stop giving the police so much leverage.