drug decriminalization in mexico

mexico has passed legislation decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and peyote.

police will not penalize people for possessing up to '5 grams of marijuana, 5 grams of opium, 25 milligrams of heroin or 500 milligrams of cocaine. People caught with larger quantities of drugs will be treated as narcotics dealers and face increased jail terms under the plan.'

i see some problems here (half a gram of cocaine and less than a quarter ounce of marijuana as the limit on personal use, everyone else is considered a drug dealer and will be penalized harshly) but it's a start. the US should follow suit. i say this, not to condone drug use, but because we should treat drug abuse and addiction as a health problem and save our prison space for those who really need it.