Mexico approves legalization of medical cannabis

The Mexican Congress has approved the legalization of medical cannabis.

The bill to authorize the scientific and therapeutic use of cannabis was passed easily in the Senate last December.

Last Friday, the House of Representatives also voted almost unanimously in favor of the bill, with 374 votes in favor and only 18 votes against or abstentions.

The bill is now headed to President Enrique Peña Nieto, who is expected to sign it.

«The new legislation removes the prohibition and criminalization of acts related to the medical use of cannabis and scientific research, as well as of individuals involved in the distribution of the plant for these purposes,» the House of Representatives wrote in a statement on its website.

The representative of the Green Party, Arturo Alvarez, said: «This is a step in the right direction toward exploring new alternatives for regulated, legalized, and supervised use, which could open a new front in the authorities» fight against addiction and violence stemming from illicit drug cultivation, trafficking, and consumption.”.

For her part, the representative of the small party Citizens' Movement, said: «This is not a move toward widespread, unregulated use, as it includes measures to ensure that the Department of Health prevents abuse or a shift toward recreational use.»

Mexican President Nieto, who had previously leaned toward prohibition, called for comprehensive drug policy reform, specifically urging that the issue be viewed through the lens of public health rather than the criminalization of users.

Mexico has has experienced severe outbreaks of drug-related violence. The war on drugs has claimed the lives of more than 80,000 people since 2006.

Last year, Mexico had already allowed certain patients to import medical cannabis products, and others to grow their own plants. Possession of less than 5 grams of cannabis is decriminalized there.