Possessing marijuana, cocaine and
even heroin will no longer be a crime in Mexico if they are in
small amounts for personal use under new reforms passed by
Congress that quickly drew U.S. criticism.

The measure given final passage 53-26 by senators in a late
night session on Thursday is aimed at letting police focus on
their battle against major drug dealers, and President

Vicente
Fox is expected to sign it into law.

"This law provides more judicial tools for authorities to
fight crime," presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar said on
Friday.

He said the reforms, which were proposed by the government
and approved earlier this week by the lower house of Congress,
made laws against major traffickers "more severe."

The legislation came as a shock to Washington, which counts
on Mexico’s support in its war against drug smuggling gangs who
move massive quantities of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and
methamphetamines through Mexico to U.S. consumers.

"I would say any law that decriminalizes dangerous drugs is
not very helpful," said Judith Bryan, spokeswoman for the U.S.
Embassy in Mexico City. "Drugs are dangerous. We don’t think it
is the appropriate way to go."

She said U.S. officials were still studying the reforms,
under which police will not penalize people for possessing up
to 5 grams of marijuana, 5 grams of opium, 25 milligrams of
heroin or 500 milligrams of cocaine.

People caught with larger quantities of drugs will be
treated as narcotics dealers and face increased jail terms
under the plan.

By Noel Randewich
news.yahoo.com