Thursday May 4, 2006
Mexican President Fox Reverses Decision to Decriminalize Marijuana, Hard Drug, Possession
By Terry Vanderheyden
MEXICO CITY, May 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – After a spokesman for Mexican President Vicente Fox said Tuesday that he would sign into law a bill that decriminalizes the possession of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs, the president has come back with a surprise reversal.
The new law approved Friday in the Mexican Senate, “represents progress,” argued the president’s spokesman, Ruben Aguilar. Because it defines “the minimum quantities that a citizen can carry for personal use,” the law would make it easier to catch drug dealers, he maintained, according to an Associated Press report.
Yesterday, it was reported that Fox would not sign the bill into law. “In our country the possession of drugs and their consumption are, and will continue to be, crimes,” his office said in a statement, according to a Reuters report. Reuters’ report further highlighted the surprise generated by the move, given that the legislation was initially designed by his office and introduced by his party.
New Zealand researchers have established that marijuana use doubles the risk of developing a mental illness like schizophrenia.
Focus on the Family Canada reacted with harsh criticism to a Canadian Senate Committee report that recommended decriminalization there. Focus’ research director Derek Rogusky pointed out that decriminalization in fact leads to greater cannabis use. In the Netherlands for example, marijuana decriminalization was accompanied by large increases in the number of users, particularly among youth. From 1984 to 1992 the rate of cannabis use among students increased by 250%. Rogusky added that adolescents who use marijuana are 85 times more likely to begin using cocaine than teens who have never smoked marijuana.
Researchers at Queen’s University in Belfast, Ireland, revealed in 2004 that marijuana can lead to infertility in men.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Irish Researchers Find Cannabis Linked to Infertility
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/mar/04033108.html
Exposure To Cannabis In Womb May Harm Unborn Children
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/mar/03032512.html
Focus Calls Senate Report On Marijuana 'totally Irresponsible'
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/sep/02091002.html
Smoking Pot Doubles Mental Illness Risk
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/mar/05030102.html
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