Treatment for drug use proposed

President Felipe Calderon sent a proposal to Mexico’s Congress that would scrap the penalties for possession of small amounts of drugs, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, opium and marijuana.

“What we are seeking is to not treat an addict as a criminal, but rather as a sick person and give them psychological and medical treatment,” said Sen. Alejandro Gonzalez, head of the Senate’s justice committee.

Under the plan, people carrying up to 2 grams of marijuana or opium, half a gram of cocaine, 50 milligrams of heroin or 40 milligrams of methamphetamine would face no criminal charges.