Legal issues

This is similar to the system in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal

It is different from the English Common Law system in the US, Canada, and the UK

There's a different presumption about innocence

• It's more common to detain people until a final determination is made

• Criminal defendants may need to prove innocence

People can be detained until they've paid potential damages, even before any final determination has been made

• A driver involved in a car crash might be held until they pay potential damages, even before any court proceedings take place

Rules of criminal and civil procedure are very different in Mexico compared to, say, the US

Private prosecutions for crimes are possible

Mexico has very strong and clear civil rights

• Most of the rights enumerated in Mexico's constitution apply to everyone irrespective of citizenship

Civil rights deriving from being a citizen of one country only apply within that country

• As a visitor to Mexico, you have numerous and important civil rights, but not necessarily the same ones you might expect at home

  • You're not entitled to insist on any rights not granted to you in Mexico's constitution

• In Mexico, only citizens may participate in political activity, including demonstrations or political petitions

• You may not have the same rights when you become involved in the legal system as in your home country

Just as everywhere else, just because something may be legal for a citizen doesn't mean it's necessarily legal for a visitor

Examples include:

• Ownership of property in certain areas

• The right to have weapons for self-defense

• Participation in demonstrations, political petitions, or similar activities

• Whether it's permissible to possess or use certain substances (e.g., cannabis)

Mexico has very strict laws about weapons

• Do not attempt to bring any firearms or ammunition unless you have an official permit to do so

• Do not carry knives that could be seen as weapons (such as dive knives) around town

• Do not bring personal defense weapons (chemical sprays, batons) with you to Mexico

Substances that you might be able to possess and use legally at home may be illegal in Mexico

• It does not matter if you have a cannabis authorization at home - that doesn't apply in Mexico

• Codeine is banned, even in combination products such as Robitussin AC® or Tylenol 3® and even if you have a prescription

• Some substances that are over-the-counter in other countries are illegal in Mexico

  • Pseudoephedrine is banned, whether by itself or in combination with an antihistamine

  • Vicks VapoInhaler® or other things with levmetamfetamine is banned

  • There are no exceptions, even if you have a prescription from somewhere else

  • Tourists have been jailed for bringing in personal supplies of Sudafed®

Many medications don't require a prescription

• You can probably get your blood pressure medication, erectile dysfunction medication, antidepressant, or insulin without a prescription

Antibiotics (all antibiotics except topical ones) require a prescription

Anabolic steroids require a prescription

Most medications considered controlled substances elsewhere are in Mexico as well, including

• All opiate pain medication (which are nearly unobtainable even with a prescription). Codeine is banned even with a prescription.

• All benzodiazepines

• Sedative-hypnotics ("sleeping pills")

• Barbiturates

• If it's a controlled substance at home, it almost certainly is in Mexico

You should travel with any controlled medications in their original, labeled containers and carry a copy of prescriptions