Yet Another Reason For Scrutiny

Mexican Legislation will allow, for “personal” use, possession of the following drugs:

Opium 5 grams, Heroin 25 milligrams, Marijuana 5 grams, Cocaine 500 milligrams, LSD .015 milligrams, MDA 200 milligrams, MDMA (Ecstasy) 200 milligrams, Mescaline 1 gram, Peyote 1 kilogram, Psilocybin 100 milligrams, Hallucinogenic mushrooms 250 milligrams, Amphetamines 100 milligrams, Dexamphetamines 40 milligrams, Phencyclidine (PCP, or Angel Dust) 7 milligrams, Methamphetamines 200 milligrams, Nalbuphine (synthetic opiate) 10 milligrams.

Pretty strong stuff.

Damon Mosler, of the San Diego County District Attorney's Office said:

“Legalizing these drugs is certainly going to have a spillover effect in San Diego. It means they'll be importing people who want to do drugs, and exporting those who need the financial wherewithal to continue to do those drugs they've become addicted to.”

Mexican lawmakers claim the law would actually strengthen drug enforcement efforts, but the mayor of San Diego, Jerry Sanders, doesn’t share that view.

“I view this as a hostile action by a longtime ally of the U.S.,” Sanders said at a City Hall news conference.

American federal authorities have said the legislation appears to “clarify” policies, rather than legalize drugs. But Ruth Hernández, a congresswoman with the National Action Party, in Mexico abstained from voting on the bill because of her own concerns with how it's being interpreted.

Of course, President Vicente Fox is certain to sign it into law, according to Mexican political analyst Oscar Aguilar. Fox's office proposed the bill, and his party is behind it.

The Bush administration had no immediate reaction, and calls to the San Diego offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were referred to the U.S. State Department.

Of course the administration had no reaction. If they did, it might piss off their pal Vicente Fox.

It’s too bad that this administration has lost its swagger and has turned into a collection of chicken-shits.