AZ authorities condemn Mexico drug law

PHOENIX -- Mexico's decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and heroin has been condemned by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the head of the Phoenix police union, who say its effects will spill over into Arizona.

The new law sets maximum "personal use" amounts for drugs. People found with those quantities no longer will face criminal prosecution.

Mark Spencer, the head of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association which represents thousands of Phoenix police officers, called Mexico's action a victory for the drug cartels.

"Now you are legitimizing their dangerous product at the lowest level, it's a bad decision," said Spencer.

During his 21-year law enforcement career, Spencer said he has seen what drug addiction does to people, leading them to a life of crime to support their habit.

Spencer said allowing people to have small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines and other drugs will remove deterrents to their becoming criminals or addicts.

"You are neutralizing deterrents," he said. "That's how you solve criminal behavior, not by ignoring it or approving it."

He said Mexico is taking "a bad step in the wrong direction. It just creates a market for the cartels and their product."

Arpaio, a former head of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in Arizona, called Mexico's new policy "bad."

"I'm very surprised that Mexico -- having dealt with Mexico for many, many years -- would come up with this policy. It's disgusting," Arpaio said. "I want to know what the Obama Administration says about this policy."

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard said his office is "Taking wait and see approach. Their [office] top priority remains choking off funds to cartels."

Mexico prosecutors defended the new law, saying it sets clear limits to keep corruption-prone police from shaking down casual users and offers addicts free treatment to keep growing domestic drug use in check.

Anyone caught with drug amounts under the new personal-use limit will be encouraged to seek treatment, and those caught a third time will be required to seek treatment.

The maximum amount of marijuana for ``personal use'' under the new law is 5 grams- the equivalent of about four joints. The limit is one-half gram for cocaine, the equivalent of about 4 ``lines.'' For other drugs, the limits are 50 milligrams of heroin, 40 milligrams for methamphetamine and 0.015 milligrams for LSD.