FOX BACKTRACKS, SENDS DRUG BILL BACK

President Vicente Fox Said He Would Ask Mexico's Congress To Amend A
Drug Decriminalization Bill. The Decision Was Praised By The White
House, Which Had Voiced Serious Concerns.

MEXICO CITY -- U.S. officials welcomed Mexican President Vicente
Fox's decision not to sign a drug decriminalization bill that some
had warned could result in "drug tourism" in this country and
increased availability of narcotics in American border communities.

Fox said Wednesday he was sending the bill back to Congress for
changes, just one day after his office had said he would sign into
law the measure, which would have dropped criminal penalties for
possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs.

The president will ask for corrections "to make it absolutely clear
in our country, the possession of drugs and their consumption are,
and will continue to be, a criminal offense."

The White House applauded Fox's decision. Presidential spokesman
Scott McClellan said U.S. officials had expressed concerns about
decriminalizing drugs. "We welcome the steps that are being taken by
President Fox," McClellan said Thursday.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, who had said he was "appalled" by the
bill because it could increase drug availability north of the border,
also said he was pleased by Fox's decision.

"I'm glad that he's listened to the many voices opposing the bill and
made changes that will make good enforcement and not legalize drugs,"
Sanders said. "We have been a partner with Mexico in fighting against
illegal drugs, and this will only help in the long-term in that relationship."

San Diego is a short drive from the border town of Tijuana, Mexico.

Presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar said on Thursday that Fox had
"in no way" yielded to U.S. pressure, but acknowledged that Mexico
"took into account the observations of U.S. authorities."

Current Mexican law allows judges to drop charges if suspects can
prove they are addicts and the quantity they were caught with is
small enough to be considered "for personal use," or if they are
first-time offenders.

The new bill would have allowed "consumers" as well as addicts to
have drugs, and delineated specific allowable quantities, which do
not appear in the current law.

Under the law, consumers could have legally possessed up to 25
milligrams of heroin, 5 grams of marijuana (about one-fifth of an
ounce, or about four joints), or 0.5 grams of cocaine -- the
equivalent of about four "lines," or half the standard street-sale quantity.