U.S. Urges Mexico to Rethink Drug Law

By MARK STEVENSON, Associated Press Writer
Wed May 3, 7:05 PM ET

The United States urged Mexico Wednesday to rethink a proposal to decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs, and the Mexican government appeared to be stepping back from the measure.

Mexico's top police official said Tuesday that the bill would have to be "analyzed" and "considered" because Congress had strayed from the intent of an original proposal by President Vicente Fox. A Fox spokesman had said earlier in the day that the president would sign the measure.

Weighing in, the U.S. government Wednesday expressed a rare public objection to an internal Mexican political development, saying anyone caught with illegal drugs in Mexico should be prosecuted or given mandatory drug treatment.

"U.S. officials ... urged Mexican representatives to review the legislation urgently, to avoid the perception that drug use would be tolerated in Mexico, and to prevent drug tourism," U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Judith Bryan said.