Mexico's New Drug Laws Could Spell Trouble for the Youth of the RGV...

An Associated Press report out of The Monitor today says that Mexican President Vicente Fox will in all likelihood sign a bill into law which will make it legal to carry small amounts of illicit drugs. Details of some of the drugs and their legal amounts include possessing up to 25 milligrams of heroin, 5 grams of marijuana, or up to 0.5 grams of cocaine. Ruben Aguilar, a Mexican spokesman for the President, is quoted in the article as saying, "The president is going to sign this law," and "The government believes that this law represents progress, because it establishes the minimum quantities that a citizen can carry for personal use".

Progress? At what cost? And to whom?

We live in an area where going to the discoteques on Friday or Saturday nights is not only looked at as the popular thing to do, but in many cases, looked at as a right of passage. "Oh, you haven't lived until..." yeah, anyone who remembers being a teenager can fill in the rest. It's bad enough that teenagers go across the border to get "fashionably" drunk, and put themselves at risk by driving back home. This is hard to swallow, but the reality is that these occurences happen, and for some reason or another the Rio Grande Valley has dealt with teenage drinking in one way or another. It shouldn't have to be this way, but....

Now, throw into the mix, the fact that they can legally possess marijuana, up to four joints, cocaine, up to four lines, and up to 25 milligrams of heroin.

To me, this spells trouble, no matter how you slice it. Especially when we're talking about serious drugs like cocaine and heroin, which have serious side effects. I mean come on, we're not talking about smoking a couple of packs of Marlboro's and downing a few cuba libres. Some one is going to get hurt here, and in all likelihood it's going to be our kids.

Make that strike two in my book for Mexico not doing it's part to be a more responsible country.

Mexico reminds me of a deadbeat parent. A parent all too willing to push their children towards the more responsible relatives because the children are having trouble in school, or have self-esteem issues, or to put it simply, the parent just doesn't want to deal with the child. Period.

All the while never assuming responsibility that the one who really needs help is themselves.