Mexican drug laws: 6 main points you need to know

Mexican drug laws? Mexico has strict laws and severe penalties for individuals caught with prohibited or regulated drugs. Although there are laws that specify limits for personal use, the reality is that foreign citizens may be arrested and sent to jail in such cases. This is because the law does not establish a clear procedure for police officers to determine the quantity or type of drug, which does not prevent individuals from being referred to the prosecutor’s office. Here are some tips and key points regarding Mexican laws related to drug use.

MEXICAN DRUG LAWS : MAIN POINTS TO CONSIDER

• Usage Restrictions: Mexican law only permits certain drugs to be used for personal consumption, which are the following:

• opium (2 grams)
• Heroin (50 milligrams )
• Cannabis Sativa, Indica or Marijuana (5 grams)
• Cocaine (500 milligrams)
• LSD (0.015 milligrams)
• MDA or love pill (40 milligrams)
• MDMA also known as ecstasy or molly (40 milligrams)
• methamphetamine (40 milligrams)

• You do not need a license issued by any Mexican authority to consume drugs for personal use: You do not need to apply for a permit to consume drugs in the quantities established in the first point. However, it is advisable to engage in these activities in private spaces or places other than public areas. This recommendation is due to the fact that police officers do not have a defined procedure to follow if they catch someone with drugs on the street. They will not determine the type or amount of the drug, as police officers are neither chemists and not carry scales with them. As a result, you will likely be arrested so that the public prosecutor can verify the legal situation. It’s better to avoid doing so.

• Licenses and Permits: It is possible to consume drugs in quantities greater than those indicated in the first point or even other types of drugs; however, this is only allowed for medical reasons. You will need a prescription from a doctor who has prescribed that drug, and you must have obtained it from an established pharmacy.

Regarding marijuana and its derivatives, you can consume amounts exceeding those established in the first point as long as you have obtained a court order from a human rights judge in Mexico (known as an “amparo”) allowing you to do so. This is because Mexican law recognizes the use of marijuana as a human right linked to the free development of personality.

• Do not travel with drugs to Mexico (you could face sentences of up to 25 years in prison): Mexican criminal law imposes severe penalties for individuals entering Mexico through the U.S. border or its airports. The reason is that there is a specific crime for those who introduce drugs, and in these cases, it doesn’t matter if the drug is small or does not exceed the amount allowed for personal consumption. Therefore, you should avoid making this mistake.

• Mexican beaches are not “drug consumption-free zones.“: Mexican authorities have never designated Mexican beaches as areas where drugs can be freely consumed. So, don’t fall for that trap by companies making such claims. The reality is that if you are caught with drugs by the tourist police on any Mexican beach, you will be arrested for drug-related offenses.

• Penalties: Most penalties related to drug possession are low, starting with sentences of 10 months in prison. This penalty applies to those who possess drugs exceeding the amount allowed for personal use and can usually be resolved through a deal with the prosecutor, where the offender commits to not doing it again and begins a detoxification treatment. However, there are penalties that can go up to 25 years in prison for individuals who bring drugs into Mexico or travel on Mexican highways with drugs and are arrested by a police officer on a freeway.