MEXICAN PRESIDENT BACKS OFF DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION BILL

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican President Vicente Fox backed off signing a drug
decriminalization bill that the United States warned could result in "drug
tourism" and increased availability of narcotics in American border
communities.

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

Fox's statement said he 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."

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders applauded Fox's decision. On Friday, Sanders
said he was "appalled" by the bill, saying it could increase drug
availability north of the border.

"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 sits a short drive from the border town of Tijuana.

Earlier Wednesday, U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Judith Bryan said U.S.
officials had "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."

That was apparently a reference to concern that the measure could increase
drug use by border visitors and U.S. students who flock to Mexico on vacation.

Bryan said the U.S. government wants Mexico "to ensure that all persons
found in possession of any quantity of illegal drugs be prosecuted or be
sent into mandatory drug treatment programs."

Fox's statement did not mention the U.S. criticism, but did acknowledge
that the bill had been controversial.

"With sensitivity toward the opinions expressed by various sectors of
society, the administration has decided to suggest changes to the content
of the bill," the statement said.

On Tuesday, Fox's spokesman had called the bill "an advance" and pledged
the president would sign it.

Mexico's Congress has adjourned for the summer, and when it comes back, it
will have an entirely new lower house and one-third new Senate members
following the July 2 elections, which will also make Fox a lame duck.

However, Sen. Jorge Zermeno, of Fox's conservative National Action Party --
a supporter of the bill -- said he thought Congress would be open to
changing the legislation to delete a clause that extends to all "consumers"
the exemption from prosecution that was originally meant to cover only
recognized drug addicts.

"The word 'consumer' can be eliminated so that the only exemption clause
would be for drug addicts," Zermeno told The Associated Press. "There's
still time to get this through."

The bill contained many points that experts said were positive. It
empowered state and local police -- not just federal officers -- to go
after drug dealers, stiffened some penalties and closed loopholes that
dealers had long used to escape prosecution.

But Mexico's top police official, Eduardo Medina Mora said legislators had
changed Fox's original proposal by inserting a controversial table laying
out maximum amounts of drugs considered for "personal use."

Current Mexican law allows judges latitude 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.