Federal Auditor Detects US$4.2 Billion in Irregularities in 2014 State and Municipal Spending of Federal Funds – According to Superior Federal Auditor (ASF), federal funds allocated to the 31 states and Mexico City and to municipalities were so poorly administrated in 2014 that at least 77.4 billion pesos [US$4.2 billion at current exchange rate] were found to have some kind of irregularity or merited further investigation. These funds represent 74% of federal expenditure for Education and Health and 93.6% of expenditures for Public Security.
Marijuana Debate: Secretary of Government Calls for Considering Raising Amount Consumers Can Possess – Secretary of Government Relations Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong called for "expanding the decriminalization" of drug users. While careful not to take a position on increasing the legally permitted level for possession of drugs, he said that while in Mexico the limit for cannabis is five grams [.18 oz.], in other regions of the planet it is much higher (up to 28 grams [1 oz.]). The secretary said that it is therefore necessary that legislators address the specifics and close the gaps in the standard.
Mexico Prisons: A Perverse Duality – In addition to its intrinsic seriousness, the Topo Chico [state prison in Nuevo Leon] tragedy – in which a riot left 49 prisoners dead – is a clarion call regarding the situation of prisons and the State’s lack of control over them, due to the so-called self-government in many prisons in which the prisoners are in charge. This situation invites us to ask an obvious question: if the State cannot exercise control in prisons, where can it? Our prisons present a perverse and complex duality, of chaos and privileges on the one hand, and of human rights violations on the other.
Does Either Mexico or U.S. Really Want to Win War on Organized Crime? – It may sound absurd, but it seems that neither the Mexican and United States governments have ever really wanted to win the war against organized crime, nor are they interested in the human cost. I am proposing this as a working hypothesis because of the obstinate indifference with which they treat the invasion of illegal firearms. In seventy percent of cases, these originate in a black market fed by the United States.