What are the drug laws?

[jammy]

I'm traveling with a group of 5, one of which is allergic to alcohol, and found other means of getting inebriated.

I don't smoke mariju... but I don't condemn those who do.

However, I'd like to know what's the likelihood of this girl getting asked to buy, and is the enforcement as relaxed as Jamaica?

Also, what if I'm around this girl, would I be accused of being guilty by association?

Thanks

[letele]

Jammy, I don't think she'll have any problem finding some...just be careful and cautious. I think they just relaxed the drug laws there in order to go after the bigtime dealers, but getting put in a Mexican jail would suck pretty bad.

[james]

The best advice is to avoid it.

If your friend decides to try anyway, I would recommend interacting with an expat (or from anywhere, as long as you can communicate with them well!) employed steady in the area, like a bartender, guide, etc. and you should be able to ask the staff, likely.

They should be able to assist with information about sourcing, and avoid buying from anyone that is offering it on the street. Pandering. That is a high probability of being ripped off or getting scammed or caught. Just get a recommendation. Friend of a friend, sort of thing.

Good behavior and discretion are always important.

[Margoinmexico]

Well, this is a touch subject now isn't it! Got James attention! :eek:

the drug laws as I understand it haven't been signed by the pres yet, but I have my news watching friends all cued to let me know when that happens and I'll post it. I understand when they are passed you will be able to have small quantities without breaking the law. :beerchug:

On the local front, it has always been pretty chill, if you got caught, it was just the "fine" paid directly to the officer..........but this winter they went kind of nuts and were doing whole car searches for no reason and if they picked you, they were going to go through everything until they found something whether they found something or not. The people that I know that got hauled in at that point "only" had to pay $150 to get out, so we're not talking life in prison or anything....but still not a fun way to spend a night. And admittedly, they did look like they would have something....

I haven't heard of anything like that for quite a while, partly I think because some of the business owners went and talked to the chief of police and said, hey, cool it!

So, my advise, follow james advice, and be descreet and don't get too Pacheco! Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eat-drink:

[james]

Once, in San Miguel de Allende, during the running of the bulls, a friend of mine was caught in the street smoking a joint. Now, this guy looks like a blond Elvis and speaks Spanish better than any white boy I've ever known. He just smoothly assuaged the cop, took care of it right there (with, like, 50 pesos or something very small, as a propina) with a contribution, and even asked for and got the joint back!

Pacheco... a great word!

It's actually a surname, too. Funny, eh? :) I used to work with a guy named Pacheco in the DF and it always made me smile to see him.
...it has always been pretty chill, if you got caught, it was just the "fine" paid directly to the officer..........but this winter they went kind of nuts and were doing whole car searches for no reason and if they picked you, they were going to go through everything until they found something whether they found something or not.... It is certainly true that law enforcement in Mexico is hot / cold on all sorts of issues. One day enforced, the next forgotten.

I'd be careful, however, saying "they were going to go through everything until they found something whether they found something or not...." because that, to me, reads that they are pulling over cars and planting drugs on people that don't have them, just to take bribes. Don't know if that's what you meant, but I have never experienced this, not in 17 years in every state in Mexico, and I used to drive a 72 VW camper....

[Margoinmexico]

Once, in San Miguel de Allende, during the running of the bulls, a friend of mine was caught in the street smoking a joint. Now, this guy looks like a blond Elvis and speaks Spanish better than any white boy I've ever known. He just smoothly assuaged the cop, took care of it right there (with, like, 50 pesos or something very small, as a propina) with a contribution, and even asked for and got the joint back!

Pacheco... a great word!
I was once at a party, and a gringa friend of mine told me she had just learned the word for Stoned was Pacheco a couple of days earlier.......then a while later, we were both talking to a Chilanga who with out us saying anything told us she had just learned the word for Pacheco is Stoned.........we asked her when she learned that , and they learned it ON THE SAME DAY; but separately..........dududududududududududud!

It's actually a surname, too. Funny, eh? :) I used to work with a guy named Pacheco in the DF and it always made me smile to see him.It is certainly true that law enforcement in Mexico is hot / cold on all sorts of issues. One day enforced, the next forgotten.

I'd be careful, however, saying "they were going to go through everything until they found something whether they found something or not...." because that, to me, reads that they are pulling over cars and planting drugs on people that don't have them, just to take bribes. Don't know if that's what you meant, but I have never experienced this, not in 17 years in every state in Mexico, and I used to drive a 72 VW camper....

:wave:Actually that is what happened, :eek: This was going on for about 2 weeks, maybe in March? I heard other similar stories, but then it stopped, but like I said, no one I know travels with any since then.......
I know people that have just done the propina thing, but the people I was talking about didn{t have any and they were searched for over 30 minutes and one of them got taken in out of 4. And like I said, they looked like they should........

[ilovewyoming]

We were down there/tulum/beach road, heading into town End of April.
THere was a road block/stop just past the fire fighters building. Late Morning. They had orange cones and had stopped 2 cars..we just went around and smiled and they waved us on..BUT they were totally searching the luggage of a hippie looking kid....Think they were profiling? :)

[utmck]

Seeing as how it has been over a year since a reply on this subject, has there been any changes with the law?

C & L

[chamba]

Best advice is always to avoid it. It is legally a problem whether you think it is harmless or not. now more than ever.
But is it common to find and see, YES. Just be smart and avoid problems.

[Margoinmexico]

:wave:Ok, in April of 09, Mexico made a law that makes possession of small amounts of Marajuana, Cocaine, Heroine and Crystal meth. I think it is 5oz of pot that is allowed. The problem is, that it is still ilegal to buy or sell it, I guess it is supposed to just manifest into your hands. The other big change in the law was that selling went from being the sole juristiction of the Feds to state and local level cops can now bust you for that and it means prison.

I think it is good to talk about this, as one of the things that was true before this law, was that it rarely got you a ticket, just extortion from the cops. Now you can tell them you know about the new law and that they can not confiscate or give you a ticket if you have less than 5 oz.

Also, I just watched the movie Hemp Revolution last night on Netflicks with some friends, and now know the complete rediculousness of the laws about hemp and marajuana, and who they serve and who they don´t serve. No matter which side of the fence you sit, I recommend watching this very well done movie. My favorite part is when they found a propoganda movie made by the state department during wwII about how patriotic it was to grow Hemp! As it turns out, Hemp could save the world.