Mexico ready to legalize cannabis next month

A bill to legalize cannabis in Mexico was tabled yesterday by a member of the ruling party. The bill would legalize cannabis under a government-run system, while allowing self-cultivation of up to 6 plants per person.

Mario Delgado Carrillo, MORENA party coordinator in the Chamber of Deputies, tabled the bill, explaining that regulating cannabis would promote public health and that having the program overseen by the government would prevent big business from monopolizing the sector.

The bill also describes the history of cannabis prohibition in Mexico, pointing out that this policy is not based on facts, and offers limited legal access to cannabis when it could prove beneficial for some patients.

It also states that prohibition has «led to the formation and multiplication of criminal groups throughout the Mexican Republic», generating global violence and over 100,000 deaths in recent years.

Legalization, meanwhile, would stimulate job growth and strengthen the economy as a whole, the bill states.

A centralized, state-run market

The legalization of cannabis in Mexico would be regulated by a central office called Cannsalud attached to the government, with operational autonomy to achieve its objectives.

The proposed production and distribution system would resemble that of Canada, with licensed producers and state-owned stores.

Legalization would also allow adults to grow up to six cannabis plants for personal use.

«With this, the cannabis market is not left in the hands of individuals, but the state becomes involved as a permanent supervisor and controller of cannabis-related activities in a legal space that guarantees a benefit for all,» a declared Mario Delgado.

«This is a first step towards opening up a new legal market. A public structure is proposed as a mandatory intermediary to identify and contain the risks inherent in establishing a new market, while international business interests are already in place seeking to maximize its presence before taking care of people's health,» he said.

The Mexican Supreme Court put an end to cannabis prohibition in Mexico in November 2018, ruling that the ban on the possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal use was unconstitutional. The court ordered the government to officially end the cannabis ban by the end of October.

«That said, it would be prudent to assume that [the bill] will be acted upon by central government in the first half of 2020,» according to LeafDesk.

Over the past few months, the country has organized a large-scale public consultation to gather opinions on the possible legalization of cannabis. The results were «overwhelmingly in favor of legalization».

Another bill to legalize cannabis has been tabled. filed earlier this month, but did not provide for the government to take charge of cannabis distribution.