MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico’s Senate will vote for a bill to fully legalize marijuana in the next few days, a key lawmaker told Reuters, marking a major step toward changing the country’s approach to the drug by removing it as a source of income for violent drug gangs.
FILE PHOTO: A pile of marijuana is being incinerated at the 28th Infantry Batallion in Tijuana, Mexico September 26, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Duenes
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a leftist critic of Mexico’s longstanding drug war, has since last year signaled his openness to the decriminalization of marijuana as part of a broader shift on security policy.
Sen. Ricardo Monreal, the leader of Lopez Obrador’s MORENA party in the upper chamber of Congress, said in an interview late on Monday that a vote on the proposal will take place later this week or next week.
“The end of the prohibitionist policy is good for the country,” he said, adding that the bill would regulate personal use and sale of marijuana as well as research into the plant. It also contemplates creation of cooperatives that would grow marijuana plus a new regulatory agency.
If approved by the Senate, the proposal would then proceed to the lower house for a vote.
MORENA and its allies hold majorities in both chambers.
Late last year, the Supreme Court said lawmakers have until Oct. 24 to legalize marijuana, after the high court ruled in several cases that the prohibition of the recreational use of the drug violates the constitution.
Under Mexican law, if the Supreme Court issues the same decision five times, the rulings set a precedent and the court can then order the establishment of a regulatory framework as well as further legal action.
While the leader of MORENA in the lower house, Mario Delgado, has proposed that the government tightly administer a future marijuana market, Monreal was noncommittal.
“There are some (proposals) that would establish a type of state-run monopoly... but we want to leave it more open,” he said.
The 59-year-old lawyer also left open the possibility that the legislation could be put on hold if a public referendum on legalizing marijuana sought by Lopez Obrador were to be authorized first.
“We will know in the next few days if we’re able to build a (legislative) consensus or if we wait for the referendum,” said Monreal.
The legislative leader emphasized that “many companies” have approached him and expressed their interest in the proposal, following similar initiatives in several U.S. states, including California, as well as Canada.
SweatyMine on October 16th, 2019 at 06:51 UTC »
They're proposing a state-owned company that would regulate the market. Essentially:
Citizens will have the right to grow up to 6 plants for personal use only
If they want to grow more or become full-on farmers, they'll have to get permission from the proposed state company (Cannsalud)
Cannsalud would be the only body authorized to buy the plants from private farmers, as well as being the large-scale seller to Cannsalud franchise owners who want to alter the plant's products (essentially turning the raw plant into smokable/edible fun)
Franchise owners would then sell their products to individual customers. Customers would also have the option to buy directly from state-operated Cannsalud stores.
Pharmaceutical companies and labs that want to research the plant or make medication from it would only be allowed to buy from state-operated Cannsalud stores, and not franchises.
JohnGillnitz on October 16th, 2019 at 04:40 UTC »
Many years ago (over 15), I went on a cruise to Mexico to Cozumel. Found it easily within a quarter mile of the boat. Decided to get my munchie on before lunch behind the restaurant. A bus boy comes out and sees me and just starts laughing. "Mota?" he asked. Now, back then, it was a big deal to get busted. Not like the full Mexican jail hell hole scenario, but an officer would drive you to an ATM and take the limit to keep you out (ask me how I know). But I figured the kid seem cool, so I just smiled and shrugged. "Mota." He just kept laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world. He pointed to the container I was sitting there smoking on and said "propano." Yes, idiot pendejo that I was, was smoking on the restaurant's gas supply. Which was held together with rusty pipes. He said something to the effect of "You're going to blow your balls off." So, I went inside. Had some good food, and tipped well.
MyBoyWicky on October 16th, 2019 at 02:39 UTC »
The ultimate stoner vibe here. “The next few days”...