MEXICO'S FOX RETREATS ON MEASURE TO EASE DRUG PENALTIES

MEXICO CITY -- Heeding an outcry of criticism from the U.S.,
President Vicente Fox retreated Wednesday from supporting a proposed
law that would have allowed small amounts of narcotics to be used in
Mexico without criminal penalties.

Fox's office said he was sending the legislation back to Congress so
it could make "necessary corrections to be absolutely clear that in
our country the possession and consumption of drugs is and will
continue being crimes."

"The state of Mexico will deepen its fight against
narco-trafficking," Fox's office said. "In no way is the use of drugs
promoted."

The sudden move a day after Fox's spokesman said Fox would sign the
bill follows expressions of alarm from U.S. officials, Mexican church
leaders and others that the proposed law could promote more drug use
and drug dealing. Some said it might set a bad example of decriminalization.

Under the law, anyone arrested with as much as 25 milligrams of
heroin, half a gram of cocaine, five grams of marijuana or similar
portions of other serious drugs would face a misdemeanor charge in an
administrative procedure instead of being prosecuted for a crime.

The wider object of the law was empowering local police to help
federal police enforce Mexico's drug laws and to have them
concentrate on large-scale traffickers and dealers without clogging
up the courts with addicts and small-time drug abusers.

But U.S. officials and others said it gave the appearance that Mexico
was condoning drug use. Karen Tandy, chief of the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration, met with Mexican officials to express
concerns that it could increase trafficking and lure Americans over
the border for "drug tourism."

"We welcome the idea of Mexico reviewing the legislation to avoid the
perception that drug use would be tolerated in Mexico," said Judith
Bryan, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.

The idea was originally proposed by the Fox administration two years
ago as part of its campaign to curtail the growing amount of drug
dealing and consumption on Mexico's streets. The bill was passed in
the early-morning hours Friday.

Fox aides said Tuesday that legislators had added language to the
bill that might have led to confusion.

While the original idea was to steer drug addicts into treatment
facilities rather than jail, the bill was changed to say any
"consumer" caught with the limited amount of drugs would not be
prosecuted criminally.