Updated Update: This is Your Southern Neighbor on Drugs

Some of the citizens of Mexico aren't happy with President Vincente Fox.

He didn't sign a drug decriminalization bill into law. Fox had given Mexicans every indication that he would sign the bill, but he did a sudden about-face.

How disappointing! What's a pothead to do?

Light up!

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- About 500 protesters held a marijuana smoke-in in Mexico City, and a presidential candidate who visited the demonstration came out in favor of decriminalization. Mexico City's police chief came out against it, and some members of Congress accused Fox of yielding to U.S. pressure to veto the bill.



"Decriminalization does not create more users ... we have to decriminalize the discussion of decriminalization," said presidential candidate Patricia Mercado, of the small Alternative Social-Democratic party, during a visit to the smoke-in and protest at a park in downtown Mexico City, where youths openly smoked joints and a heavy odor of marijuana hung in the air.

Mercado declined protesters' invitation to "Light up! Light up!" but said she did support decriminalizing marijuana.

Mercado should have taken the protesters up on their invitation. Later, she could simply say that she didn't inhale. That works.

A half-dozen Mexico City police officers confronted the protesters, but the crowd thronged around them shouting "Take us all, Take us all!" and the police quickly retreated.

...Protest organizers described comments by U.S. officials asking Mexico to reconsider the bill as a violation of Mexico's sovereignty.

WHAT???

The U.S. and Mexico are supposedly working together to quell the drug problem.

So, when Mexico is about to enact decriminalization legislation, it's completely appropriate for the U.S. to express concern.

How can the protest organizers claim that the U.S. is violating Mexico's sovereignty?

That is insane.

Millions and millions of Mexicans are violating our sovereignty by entering the U.S. illegally AND then demanding that American taxpayers foot the bill for their support and services.

If Mexicans want to argue about issues of sovereignty, then bring it on.

Do you think these disgruntled Mexican drug users will storm the U.S., enter the country illegally, and then demand that the U.S. government pass legislation to legalize illicit substances?

It's possible. Martin Sheen could march with them. He loves a good protest.

Actually, the Mexicans could join forces with the U.S. movement for decriminalization.

Pot lovers have a yearly gathering in Madison to promote their drug of choice. It's really a wholesome Wisconsin family event. This past fall, large crowds turned out for the 35th annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival.

True, some people prefer to celebrate autumn by picking pumpkins and enjoying the fall colors.

Others celebrate pot.


Here is a recap of the 2005 festival.

Thousands gathered at the University of Wisconsin's Library Mall to attend the 35th Annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival this past weekend.

The event, organized by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws ( NORML ), typically takes place beneath a well-known cloud of marijuana smoke. Though police are present during the annual event, enforcement of drug laws is not common.

"This is the only weekend where you can smoke weed in public and not be arrested," Jon Tischner, event attendee, said. "Cops are there, and they know people are smoking, but they don't really do anything about it."

..."My understanding is that there were no arrests this year," [Ald. Austin King, District 8] said. "We've rarely seen any police action taken at the event over the years."

..."It's a good policy to not interfere with the event," King said. "The crowd is peaceful and happy, so it's better to let them go on their way."


 

This alderman may view the people at the festival as "peaceful and happy," but their actions are illegal nonetheless.

Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager doesn't seem to mind either.

"Enforcement of drug laws is not common" at the event. Why?

Although the fest "takes place beneath a well-known cloud of marijuana smoke," and police are present, they allow the law-breaking.

The Harvest Festival does advocate the regulated legalization of cannabis and the Madison chapter of NORML's mission statement reads as follows:

"To uphold Madison's long-standing community standard that the use of cannabis is not a criminal matter. To show compassion towards our seniors, disabled and seriously ill; to support Wisconsin's farmers; and to ensure the personal freedom of responsible adults."

Advocates at the festival argued for the legalization of marijuana so the government can implement taxation and regulation. A second attendee, who also wished to remain anonymous for fear of arrest, said taxing cannabis would serve to mend government debt.

"Taxing ganja would bring in $6 billion no problem [sic]," the festival attendee said. "Legalizing marijuana would make things so much easier for everyone. Get down with the brown, keep the money in town. If we grow that [stuff], we'd be able to keep the money here."

This "attendee" can't be serious! "Getting down with the brown" will help reduce government debt. That's hilarious.

I guess I shouldn't be too critical. At least, it's a plan -- more than the Dems have to offer.

Learn about Madison NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
Read more Harvest Fest related articles.

And here is information on the Media Awareness Project.

The group believes that "prohibition is a system which unleashes powerful forces, most notably the illegal drug markets, that inevitably make the underlying drug problem worse while adding a series of costly unintended side effects, including damage to the very values upon which free nations have been founded."
I think Mexican presidential candidate Mercado would agree.

Fox, too.