MEXICO MOVES TO LEGALIZE DRUGS

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's Congress approved a bill Friday
decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, Ecstasy,
cocaine and heroin for personal use -- a measure sure to raise
questions in Washington about Mexico's commitment to the war on drugs.

The only step remaining was the signature of President Vincente Fox,
who is expected to sign it.

Mexican officials hope the law will help police focus on large-scale
trafficking operations, rather than minor drug busts. The bill also
stiffens penalties for trafficking and possession of drugs by
government employees or near schools.

The Bush administration had no immediate reaction. The bill, passed by
Mexico's Senate on a 53-26 vote with one abstention, already had been
approved in the lower house.

The bill says criminal charges will no longer be brought for
possession of up to 25 milligrams of heroin, 5 grams of marijuana
(about four joints), and half a gram of cocaine -- enough for several
lines of the drug. The Senate bill also lays out allowable quantities
for a large array of other drugs, including LSD, MDA, Ecstasy and
amphetamines.