Security Executive Council: Change In Mexican Drug Law Will Impact U.S. Businesses, Critical Infrastructure Sectors

The Associated Press reports that on August 21, Mexico decriminalized the possession and use of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and LSD. This change would have a major effect on safety/environmental, legal, human resources and employment operations of businesses that have facilities in Mexico or employees that travel there.

The previous law punished drug possession of any amount with stiff jail sentences. The new law decriminalizes usage by emphasizing treatment for small-scale users, freeing up law enforcement to focus on violent drug traffickers, some officials say. The new law sets "personal use" limits of 5 grams for marijuana, one-half gram for cocaine, 50 milligrams of heroin, 40 milligrams for methamphetamine and 0.015 milligrams for LSD.

The Security Executive Council encourages security executives to meet with their business leaders immediately to prepare their responses to this new law when it is enacted.

“Pre-employment screening programs, drug testing programs, and safety programs of U.S. companies operating in Mexico have always operated on a zero tolerance policy for use or possession when it came to illegal drugs,” said Bob Hayes, managing director of the Security Executive Council. “How will companies respond to both enforcement and testing when the use and minimal possession are no longer illegal? Where blood alcohol content levels can be quickly tested and can define levels of impairment associated with the result, similar tests for impairment are not available for the decriminalized substances.”

Critical infrastructure sectors and U.S. business regulations are often highly dependent on a drug free workplace for improved safety and environmental protection. The transportation sector (e.g., pilots, ship captains and truck drivers), food sector and the energy sector including nuclear and offshore drilling, are highly regulated and will be significantly impacted when this law goes into effect. To complicate matters more it appears other countries are considering following Mexico’s lead such as Argentina and Portugal.

Featured

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.