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| Mexico President Pena Nieto proposes relaxing marijuana laws | Mexico President Pena Nieto proposes relaxing marijuana laws |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has proposed legalising marijuana for medical purposes and easing limits for personal use of the drug. | Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has proposed legalising marijuana for medical purposes and easing limits for personal use of the drug. |
| He said he would be sending a bill to the Congress to increase the amount users can legally carry from the current five grams to 28 (0.18-1oz). | He said he would be sending a bill to the Congress to increase the amount users can legally carry from the current five grams to 28 (0.18-1oz). |
| He had previously opposed efforts to liberalise Mexico's tough drug laws. | He had previously opposed efforts to liberalise Mexico's tough drug laws. |
| Tens of thousands of people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico in recent years. | Tens of thousands of people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico in recent years. |
| "We, Mexicans, know all too well the range and the defects of prohibitionist and punitive policies, and of the so-called war on drugs that has prevailed for 40 years,'' President Pena Nieto said on Thursday. | "We, Mexicans, know all too well the range and the defects of prohibitionist and punitive policies, and of the so-called war on drugs that has prevailed for 40 years,'' President Pena Nieto said on Thursday. |
| "Our country has suffered, as few have, the ill effects of organised crime tied to drug trafficking. | "Our country has suffered, as few have, the ill effects of organised crime tied to drug trafficking. |
| "Fortunately, a new consensus is gradually emerging worldwide in favour of reforming drug policies. A growing number of countries are strenuously combating criminals, but instead of criminalising consumers, they offer them alternatives and opportunities." | "Fortunately, a new consensus is gradually emerging worldwide in favour of reforming drug policies. A growing number of countries are strenuously combating criminals, but instead of criminalising consumers, they offer them alternatives and opportunities." |
| Mr Pena Nieto said marijuana use should be seen as a public health issue. He also stressed that the proposed bill would not completely legalise marijuana. | |
| The move would place Mexico in the middle range of drug regulation policies in the region. | The move would place Mexico in the middle range of drug regulation policies in the region. |
| In Cuba and Venezuela, it is a criminal offence to possess any quantity of marijuana. | In Cuba and Venezuela, it is a criminal offence to possess any quantity of marijuana. |
| Meanwhile, Uruguay became the first country in the world in 2013 to make it legal to grow, sell and consume marijuana. | Meanwhile, Uruguay became the first country in the world in 2013 to make it legal to grow, sell and consume marijuana. |
| This week the Canadian government announced that would introduce legislation to legalise the sale of marijuana for recreational use. | This week the Canadian government announced that would introduce legislation to legalise the sale of marijuana for recreational use. |
| Analysis by BBC's Americas regional editor Candace Piette | Analysis by BBC's Americas regional editor Candace Piette |
| The decision to liberalise marijuana for medical use will be welcomed by one couple - the parents of an eight-year-old girl named Grace Elizalde. | The decision to liberalise marijuana for medical use will be welcomed by one couple - the parents of an eight-year-old girl named Grace Elizalde. |
| Their campaign to be able to obtain cannabis-based oil legally to help with their daughter's epileptic condition did much to highlight the benefits of liberalisation. | Their campaign to be able to obtain cannabis-based oil legally to help with their daughter's epileptic condition did much to highlight the benefits of liberalisation. |
| Last year a federal judge ruled that the government could do nothing to stop the couple importing the oil. The Mexican media reported that Grace - who was having as many as 400 epileptic fits a day - experienced an 80% reduction in the intensity and frequency of her attacks. | Last year a federal judge ruled that the government could do nothing to stop the couple importing the oil. The Mexican media reported that Grace - who was having as many as 400 epileptic fits a day - experienced an 80% reduction in the intensity and frequency of her attacks. |
| The new law could also help reduce Mexico's prison population. Official figures say 60% of inmates in federal prisons are there on drug charges, many of them for marijuana offences. The figure is 80% for women. | The new law could also help reduce Mexico's prison population. Official figures say 60% of inmates in federal prisons are there on drug charges, many of them for marijuana offences. The figure is 80% for women. |
| President Pena Nieto said the decision to increase the amount of marijuana for personal use could lead to the release of thousands of prisoners in Mexico's overcrowded jails. | President Pena Nieto said the decision to increase the amount of marijuana for personal use could lead to the release of thousands of prisoners in Mexico's overcrowded jails. |