On the legalization of drugs

At the end of April 2009, the Congress of the Union approved a package of reforms where the "Law of Narco-trafficking " which modified the amount in which an individual can possess drugs in Mexico without being prosecuted with a judicial action.

Talk about legalization of drugs is not the same as talking about decriminalization or discrimination of drugs. The legalization of drugs would mean allowing establishments such as cafes, pharmacies or stores to sell a certain amount of drugs, according to the Journal of Criminal Sciences Iter Criminis. In Mexico, it does not happen this way. The sale of drugs and even the free supply in any amount is penalized.

What is decriminalized, and this has been the case since 1978, is that the possession of drugs for the strict personal consumption of a certain amount is decriminalized. The modification of 2009 only made the amount that can be owned smaller, agreed as the amount of substance a person needs for their next use. These amounts were established to distinguish the differences between a problem of personal addiction, a problem of drug trafficking or a problem of drug dealing.

The doctor and Technical Secretary of the National Council of Addictions, Carlos Rodríguez Ajenjo, states that illegal drugs are illegal because they are dangerous. "They have the ability to affect the functioning of the nervous system That's why they are controlled drugs in special groups according to the Geneva Convention, "he said.

 

Dangerousness of drugs

This international convention classifies the substances into large groups according to their danger: 1.- Medical drugs that have to be regulated: Tranquilizers, hypnotics, etc. two.- Legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco. 3.- Penalized drugs like cocaine, marijuana, among others.

Mexico is a signatory of said convention.

"There are studies that show that the legalization of drugs, if consumption increases . The smallest would have the possibility of easier access, and the more immature the nervous system of the individual who tries them, is more addictive for your body, "said the specialist. When they are legalized, it is easier for a person to move from one drug to another, for example, if marijuana is legalized, it is more likely that they will try another drug that provides greater satisfaction such as cocaine, Dr. Rodriguez Ajenjo said.

According to data provided by the Technical Secretary of CONADIC, marijuana does not kill, but produces effects of the harmful type, such as clumsiness, learning problems, produces anhedonia , which is a loss of motivation and interest on the part of its consumers and that in many cases is the prelude to depression. "Not legalizing it will stop being dangerous," he said.

Drug addicts should not be seen as criminals, since what they suffer is a disease, and a sick person needs help. Consumers should not be criminalized , but to see them as a public health problem that requires prevention and treatment measures, concluded Dr. Rodriguez Ajenjo.


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