Patients not Criminals

Mexico takes an important step in the direction of a sane and humane drug policy: decriminalizing personal use.

Under siege by drug traffickers, Mexico took a bold and controversial step last week when it opted to no longer prosecute those carrying relatively small quantities of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs. Instead, people found with drugs for “personal and immediate use,” according to the law, will be referred to free treatment programs where they will be considered patients, not criminals....

The decriminalization effort, which many lawmakers endorsed with little enthusiasm, is intended to free up prison space for dangerous criminals and to better wean addicts away from drugs. It is not the only legislation put forward that would probably never have been considered were the country not in the midst of a bloody and seemingly endless drug war.

It's worth pointing out that the primary reason Mexico is "under siege" by drug traffickers is because of U.S. drug policy that allows demand to flourish even as it spends vast resources enforcing prohibitions against supply. Go figure that that would produce elaborate cartels in the country next door.