MEXICO'S FOX TO SIGN DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION

MEXICO CITY -- President Vicente Fox of Mexico will sign into law a
measure that decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of
marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs for personal use, his
spokesman said.

Spokesman Ruben Aguilar defended the law, approved Friday by Mexico's
Senate, despite U.S. criticism that it could increase casual drug use.
"The president is going to sign this law," said Mr. Aguilar, who
called the legislation "a better tool ... that allows better action
and better coordination in the fight against drug dealing."

Under current Mexican law, judges can drop charges against people
caught with drugs if they can prove they are addicts and if an expert
certifies they were caught with "the quantity necessary for personal
use."

The bill makes the decriminalization automatic and drops the addict
requirement -- automatically letting any "consumers" have drugs. While
police will still be able to detain people for public consumption or
possession, it appears those caught could only be referred to a
treatment program -- of which Mexico has few -- or have their names
added to a registry of addicts.

On Friday, Mayor Jerry Sanders of San Diego said he was "appalled" by
the bill. The city is a short drive from the Mexican border town of
Tijuana. "I certainly think we are going to see more drugs available
in the United States," Mr. Sanders said.