Mexico’s drug problem is out of control! This is not news. It is a daily occurrence and focus, in particular for border cities such as San Diego, where we are reminded of the drug problem daily. On the front page of today’s paper is yet another story of a major drug bust in Baja California. We could fill our news pages daily with drug related stories.
The drug issue has no boundaries, knows no borders. Mexico is immersed in drug cartels, corruption, kidnappings, and murders that are as heinous as they are gruesome. Mexico is overwhelmed by this problem.
This past week Mexico passed a little noted piece of legislation that decriminalizes personal possession for such drugs as small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs.
The bill says users caught with small amounts — 5 grams of marijuana, 500 milligrams of cocaine — clearly intended for “personal and immediate use” will not be criminally prosecuted. They will be told of available clinics, and encouraged to enter a rehabilitation program. Up to 40 milligrams of methamphetamine is permitted under the legislation, as is up to 50 milligrams of heroin.
The assumption is that the war on drugs must focus on the drug dealers and move away from the consuming occupation of catching the drug user. Mexico is overwhelmed.
Unfortunately, with the decriminalization of “personal use” quantities of marijuana, cocaine, meth, and heroin, south of the border cities such as Tijuana, Ensenada, and Rosarito will become destinations of unbridled drug use for anyone looking to get “high.” “Spring break” may be redefined. Young people already go south of the border to cut loose, party all night, and for 18 year old youths – to legally drink alcohol beyond any reasonable constraint. Now you add the ability to legally take drugs and the potential for disaster that awaits these young people is not hard to visualize. The past history of Tijuana being a seedy town, prostitution, donkey shows, and where gringos would go to drink, with stories of bowls of cocaine on the bar, comes readily to mind.
Loosening the constraints on drug use is the wrong way to go. It sends the wrong message and takes towns like Tijuana back to the days when it was seen as sin city.
The impact on the young people will be devastating. They already believe nothing bad will ever happen to them until it is too late. Drug usage only leads to bad things happening: rape, addiction, killings, and theft to feed habits to name a few.
Mexico has a drug problem but this will do nothing to solve the problem. In fact, this new legislation will only cause greater problems. Especially for those cities and communities that are a short drive or a quick ride on the trolley to the border. Nothing good is going to come of this new law in Mexico.