U.S. WARY OF MEXICAN DRUG LIBERALIZATION

The United States reacted cautiously Saturday to a Mexican measure
that would make it legal to carry small amounts of cocaine, heroin and
other drugs for personal use.

News of the decriminalization did not make the front pages of any
major Mexico City newspaper, nor was it discussed in editorials. It
was slightly better publicized in the north of the country, where turf
wars between rival drug gangs have caused hundreds of killings along
the Mexico-U.S. border.

President Vicente Fox has yet to sign the bill, which would eliminate
penalties for those caught with small amounts of some drugs, but his
office has applauded it. Mexican lawmakers have said the bill will let
authorities focus on major drug traffickers and not clutter prisons
with small-time offenders.

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Judith Bryan said Saturday the measure could
actually make it easier to prosecute drug crimes because it attempts
to "precisely specify the amount of narcotics in possession of a
suspect to allow a criminal prosecution."

"Preliminary information from Mexican legislative sources indicates
that the intent of the draft legislation is to clarify the 'small
amounts' of drugs for personal use," she said.