Cannabis in Mexico

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Cannabis in Mexico is legal for both recreational and medicinal purposes. It became legal for recreational purposes in June 2021, upon application and issuance of a permit from the health secretariat, COFEPRIS (Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios).[1] On 29 June 2021, the Supreme Court of Mexico decriminalized the recreational use of cannabis. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador signed a bill that allows adults 18 and over to possess up to 28 grams of cannabis and grow up to six marijuana plants on their property.[2][3]

The Supreme Court of Mexico first declared the law prohibiting its use unconstitutional on October 31, 2018. The effect of the ruling is that the Congress of Mexico was ordered to formally legalize cannabis within a period of 90 days. However, the Mexican Congress did not abide and the Supreme Court has often extended the deadline.

Cannabis had previously been illegal since 1920, personal possession of small amounts was decriminalized in 2009, and medical use of THC content less than one percent was legalized in 2017.

On March 10, 2021, the Chamber of Deputies passed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana, which was expected to go before the Senate by April 30, 2021. If the bill had been approved, the bill would have gone before the President of Mexico in order to be signed into law.[4]

After the April 30, 2021 deadline, there was a 10-day period for the Senate to ask the Supreme Court of Mexico for a time extension. However, before the deadline expired, some lawmakers decided to seek a special legislative session after the June elections.[5] On June 10, 2021, the Supreme Court decided to list the ¨declaration of unconstitutionality¨ on its docket for a vote on June 28. The Court voted to legalize adult use of marijuana in an 8-3 decision.[6]

History

Cannabis was introduced to Mexico by the Spanish as early as the 16th century, in the form of hemp. Spain encouraged the production of hemp in the territory, which was used to produce rope and textiles.[7] Following the Mexican War of Independence (1810–1821), hemp farming decreased as subsidies from Spain evaporated.[7]

Some academics also believe that indigenous Mexicans adopted psychoactive cannabis as the drug Pipiltzintzintli for ritual purposes and divination.[8] By 1898, cannabis use was prevalent in Mexico.[9] The drug was commonly used for recreational purposes and as a folk remedy to treat pain—particularly among military personnel and the lower class.[10]

Prohibition

Newsprint depicting trouble in Belem Prison due to cannabis use

In 1882, cannabis was banned at the military hospital in Mexico City, to prevent violence and disorder.[11] Stories of users committing violent crimes were widely circulated by newspapers in Mexico and border towns of the United States.[12] In 1920, Mexico banned the production, sale, and recreational use of cannabis.[13] In 1927, Mexico banned the export of cannabis.[14]

Eradication

During the late 1970s, a controversial program sponsored by the US government sprayed paraquat on cannabis fields in Mexico.[15] Following Mexican efforts to eradicate cannabis and poppy fields in 1975, the United States government helped by sending helicopters and other technological assistance. Helicopters were used to spray the herbicides paraquat and 2,4-D on the fields; cannabis contaminated with these substances began to show up in US markets, leading to debate about the program.[16]

Reform

Decriminalization (2009)

On 21 August 2009, Mexico decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis and other drugs in order to reduce the illicit drug activity. Maximum amounts which could be considered "personal use" were established. Under the new law, anyone caught with up to five grams of cannabis will be advised to seek a drug rehabilitation center rather than arrested or fined.[17] President Felipe Calderon claimed the change would allow law enforcement to focus on major traffickers rather than minor consumers. In practice, minor drug possession was already widely tolerated by police.[18]

2015 Supreme Court ruling

In November 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that four individuals from the Mexican Society for Responsible and Tolerant Personal Use (SMART) would be permitted to grow and consume their own cannabis. The court voted 4–1 that prohibiting people from growing the drug for personal consumption was unconstitutional as it violated the human right to the free development of one's personality.[19][20]

Limited medical use legalized (2017)

In June 2017, President Enrique Peña Nieto signed a bill into law to allow the medical use of cannabis products containing less than one percent THC.[21] The bill passed the Senate by a 98–7 vote in December 2016 and the Lower House of Congress by a 371–19 vote in April 2017.[22]

2018 Supreme Court ruling

On October 31, 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that the law prohibiting recreational use of cannabis in Mexico was unconstitutional. As this was the fifth time that the court had ruled in such a way, it set a binding precedent across the country's court system. The effect of the ruling was that the law prohibiting cannabis still remained in effect, but that it should no longer be enforced due to the fact that anyone could cite the ruling and demand that their charges be thrown out. The ruling mandated that the government of Mexico move to formally legalize cannabis within the next 90 days.[23][24][25][26] On April 17 2020, the Supreme Court extended the deadline to December 15, 2020.[27]

2021 legislation

On March 10, 2021, the lower house of the Mexican Congress approved a bill legalizing recreational cannabis, in a 316-to-219 vote. The legislation had been expected to pass through the Senate before being sent to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has signaled support for legalization, however the legislation was not completed before the end of the legislative session and the Legislature did not ask for an extension. Some lawmakers floated the idea of a special session after the June, 2021 elections.[28] On June 10, 2021, the Supreme Court listed the ¨declaration of unconstitutionality¨ on their docket for a vote on June 28.[29]

2021 Supreme Court ruling

On June 28, 2021, the Supreme Court voted 8–3 to legalize adult use marijuana under Mexican law.[30] However, state and federal penal laws remain in place, pending action by the Mexican Congress to clean up inconsistencies and remove penal language. No legal structure has been put into place allowing for legal sale of marijuana, nor are there provisions for commercial growth and production. Meanwhile, those incarcerated for sale or possession have no path to release. All these await legislative action to bring Mexico's laws into alignment with the Supreme Court rulings. Unlike in the US, a Supreme Court ruling does not automatically invalidate all existing laws. Congress has had years to act, but has not yet done so successfully.[31]

Views on cannabis

In 2008, only about 7 percent of Mexico's citizens were in favor of legalizing cannabis. That number grew to about 33 percent in favor of legalizing recreational use in 2016.[32]

The majority of Mexico's citizens identify as Catholic, and the Catholic Church is against the use of cannabis when used for recreational purposes. Pope Francis said that decriminalizing the drug does not solve the addiction problem.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Mexico marijuana: Top court decriminalises recreational use of cannabis". BBC News. 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  2. ^ "Mexico's supreme court decriminalizes recreational use of cannabis". CNN. 29 June 2021.
  3. ^ Lopez, Oscar (11 March 2021). "Mexico Set to Legalize Marijuana, Becoming World's Largest Market". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Businesses prepare for the imminent legalization of marijuana in Mexico this month", [Vallarta Daily News], Puerto Vallarta, 7 April 2021. Retrieved on 16 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Lawmakers fail to legalize marijuana ahead of Supreme Court deadline", [Marijuana Moment], 3 May 2021. Retrieved on 20 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Mexico marijuana: Top court decriminalises recreational use of cannabis". BBC News. 28 June 2021.
  7. ^ a b Robert Clarke; Mark Merlin (1 September 2013). Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany. University of California Press. pp. 129–130. ISBN 978-0-520-95457-1.
  8. ^ Isaac Campos (23 April 2012). Home Grown: Marijuana and the Origins of Mexico's War on Drugs. Univ of North Carolina Press. p. 253. ISBN 978-0-8078-8268-9.
  9. ^ Bonnie, Richard J.; Whitebread II, Charles H. (1999). The Marijuana Conviction: A History of Marijuana Prohibition in the United States. New York: Lindesmith Center. p. 5. ISBN 1-891385-06-2.
  10. ^ Bonnie & Whitebread II 1999, p. 33-35.
  11. ^ Beatriz Caiuby Labate; Clancy Cavnar; Thiago Rodrigues (30 July 2016). Drug Policies and the Politics of Drugs in the Americas. Springer. p. 37. ISBN 978-3-319-29082-9.
  12. ^ Bonnie & Whitebread II 1999, p. 35-37.
  13. ^ Isaac Campos (2012). Home Grown: Marijuana and the Origins of Mexico's War on Drugs. Univ of North Carolina Press. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-8078-3538-8.
  14. ^ Al Cimino (15 July 2013). Drug Wars: The Mexican Cartels. Arcturus Publishing. p. 208. ISBN 978-1-78428-044-4.
  15. ^ Panic over Paraquat, Time, May 1, 1978
  16. ^ "Drug Survival News". Vol. 6, no. 5. March 1978.
  17. ^ "Mexico Legalizes Drug Possession". The New York Times. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  18. ^ Wilkinson, Tracy; Marosi, Richard (23 August 2009). "In Mexico, no jail time for small amounts of drugs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  19. ^ "Mexico court ruling could eventually lead to legal marijuana". BBC. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  20. ^ Malkin, Elisabeth; Ahmed, Azam (4 November 2015). "Ruling in Mexico Sets Into Motion Legal Marijuana". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  21. ^ Janikian, Michelle (14 September 2017). "Legal Pot In Mexico: Everything You Need to Know". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  22. ^ Osborne, Samuel (21 June 2017). "Mexico legalises medical marijuana". The Independent. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  23. ^ Orsi, Peter (31 October 2018). "Mexico court sets precedent on legal, recreational pot use". Associated Press. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  24. ^ Ingraham, Christophewr (1 November 2018). "Mexico's Supreme Court overturns country's ban on recreational marijuana". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  25. ^ McDonnell-Parry, Amelia (2 November 2018). "Did Mexico Just Legalize Pot?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  26. ^ Adlin, Ben (1 November 2018). "FAQ: Mexico Legalized Cannabis? Not Exactly". Leafly. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  27. ^ Nayeli Lozano (April 17, 2020). "SCJN amplia plazo parra que Senado dictamine regulación de cannabis". politico.com.
  28. ^ Lopez, Oscar (11 March 2021). "Mexico Set to Legalize Marijuana, Becoming World's Largest Market". The New York Times.
  29. ^ [1], Marijuana In Mexico Weekly, 15 June 2021. Retrieved on 16 June 2021.
  30. ^ "Mexico marijuana: Top court decriminalises recreational use of cannabis". BBC News. 28 June 2021.
  31. ^ "How Mexico Has Legalized But Still Not Regulated Cannabis". Filter Magazine. 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-09-17.
  32. ^ "Northern Lights; Marijuana in Mexico". The Economist. Vol. 421, no. 9021. December 24, 2016. ProQuest 1851927517.
  33. ^ Diaz, Berenice Rocio Toboada (September 6, 2013). "Mexico; Marijuana Ignites National Debate". La Prensa San Diego. ProQuest 1437942203.

External links

  • Media related to Cannabis in Mexico at Wikimedia Commons
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