Drug court bill date announced.

A state lawmaker said a bill to create a special court for drug addicts who commit crimes will be introduced in two weeks.

Assemblyman Carlos Torres, a Tijuana member of the National Action Party, said the proposal was made with input received during two hearings held by mid-May in Tijuana and Mexicali.

The lawmaker said drug addiction is closely linked to the increase in crime rate.

In the fight against drug abuse authorities must jointly look for a unique path that acknowledges the issue as an illness where applied as not all those who consume drugs can be treated as sick.

State Chief Justice Jorge Armando Vázquez said the bill seeks to offer an option to rehabilitate those who commit crimes.

If enacted, the bill would allow improving the process to rehabilitate those who have committed a crime under the influence of controlled substances.

Vázquez said robberies, burglaries and vehicle theft are closely linked to drug abuse.

The bill would apply only for misdemeanor cases, he detailed.

An inter-institutional commission would be in charge of rehabilitating those criminals under parole or probation with participation of suspect’s relatives and members of the communities where they live.

The bill is scheduled to be introduced June 29.

State Secretary of Public Health Guillermo Trejo said drug abuse must be treated not only as a justice issue but also as an illness.

The bill includes provisions to create a tri-party council with specialized staff to rehabilitate drug addicts.