Cannabis in Mexico

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Cannabis field in Sinaloa

Cannabis in Mexico has been illegal since 1920, but personal possession of small amounts was decriminalized in 2009. Medical use for THC content less than 1% was legalized in 2017.

History[edit]

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 colony, which was used to produce rope and textiles.[1] Following Mexico's independence in 1810, hemp farming decreased as subsidies from Spain evaporated.[1]

Some academics also believe that indigenous Mexicans adopted psychoactive cannabis as the drug pipiltzintzintlis for ritual purposes and divination.[2] By 1898, cannabis use was prevalent in Mexico.[3] The drug was commonly used recreationally and as a folk remedy to treat pain—particularly among military personnel and the lower class.[4]

Prohibition[edit]

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.[5] Stories of users committing violent crimes were widely circulated by newspapers in Mexico and border towns of the United States.[6] In 1920, Mexico banned the production, sale, and recreational use of cannabis.[7] In 1927, Mexico banned the export of cannabis.[8]

Eradication[edit]

During the late 1970s, a controversial program sponsored by the US government sprayed paraquat on cannabis fields in Mexico.[9] Following Mexican efforts to eradicate marijuana 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; marijuana contaminated with these substances began to show up in US markets, leading to debate about the program.[10]

Legalization and decriminalization[edit]

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.[11] 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.[12]

President Enrique Pena Nieto signed a bill to legalize cannabis-based substances for medicinal purposes on June 19, 2017. These substances, pharmacological derivatives of cannabis, such as oils and pills must contain no more than 1% THC.[13]

Views on cannabis[edit]

In 2008, only about 7% of Mexico's citizens were for legalizing cannabis. This was due to the fact that the war on drugs in Mexico has claimed thousands of lives and many directly associated cannabis as a bad thing. That number has increasingly grown in the last few years to about 33% for legalizing the recreational use.[14] The recent legislation of cannabis in the United States could be a factor to make Mexico rethink its oppressing view in cannabis. The majority of Mexico’s citizens identify as Catholic. The Catholic Church is against the use of cannabis whether it is for medical or recreational purposes. It believes that legalizing marijuana will encourage teenagers to start using it recreationally, even though the legalization in Colorado states otherwise.[13] Pope Francis himself said that decriminalizing the drug does not solve the addiction problem, and only by educating the young is what builds values and gives them hope for the future.[15] Furthermore, the most popular Catholic newspaper in Mexico published opinion-based articles in which claimed that cannabis had no medical benefits.[13]

2015 Supreme Court ruling[edit]

In November 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that four individuals from the Mexican Society for Responsible and Tolerant Personal Use would be permitted to grow and smoke their own marijuana. 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.[16] The ruling did not change any current laws, but could lay the groundwork for future legal actions that force a rewrite of the laws.[17]

Medical cannabis[edit]

The medical use of cannabis is legal in Mexico; however, THC content is limited to 1%.[13] President Nieto signed a bill into law establishing this policy in June 2017.[18] It 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.[18]

Potential effects of legalizations[edit]

ManifestacionContraLeySeguridadInterior ohs010.jpg

Medical benefits[edit]

Although Mexico’s recent marijuana legalization is very limited, a full legalization in the future could come with both positive and negative effects in the country.

Medical Marijuana Inc. created another company called HempMeds Mexico soon after RSHO-X, a cannabis-based oil, was the first product of this kind legalized for import to Mexico. This company for now is the only one that has imported cannabis-based products for medical use in Mexico. So far, this has only benefitted a couple of families but they have been working closely with HempMeds(R) Mexico to provide and ensure those in need have access to it.[19] More specifically, they helped a family whose daughter, Graciela Elizalde, suffered from a severe form of Epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome by reducing Graciela’s seizures.[13] Days after this case was made public, the Center of Social Studies and Public Opinion (CESPO) surveyed citizens. 82 percent were against cannabis sales, 73 percent were against legalizing cannabis for recreational use, but 76 percent were in favor of legalizing it for medical purposes.[13]

Potential economic benefits[edit]

Because this bill is very recent and the legalization of cannabis is very limited through this legislation, there are no facts about how Mexico’s economy has been affected. The State of California also passed a legislation legalizing the use of recreational marijuana. A legally regulated market could help by bringing in at least $1.2 billion in tax revenues, in addition to revenue from sales; it could also save over $200 million in law enforcement costs such as arrests and imprisonment. The legalization could also create thousands of jobs through spin off industries and decrease the unemployment rate. In total, it could potentially bring about $3–5 billion in direct use of cannabis, and about $12–18 billion in spin off industries to California’s economy.[20] If Mexico was to decriminalize medical and recreational marijuana, it would have a similar outcome and benefit Mexico’s economy.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 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. 
  2. ^ 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. 
  3. ^ 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. 
  4. ^ Bonnie & Whitebread II 1999, p. 33-35.
  5. ^ 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. 
  6. ^ Bonnie & Whitebread II 1999, p. 35-37.
  7. ^ 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. 
  8. ^ Al Cimino (15 July 2013). Drug Wars: The Mexican Cartels. Arcturus Publishing. p. 208. ISBN 978-1-78428-044-4. 
  9. ^ Panic over Paraquat, Time Magazine, May 1, 1978
  10. ^ "Drug Survival News". 6 (5). March 1978. 
  11. ^ "Mexico Legalizes Drug Possession". The New York Times. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2010. 
  12. ^ Wilkinson, Tracy; Marosi, Richard (23 August 2009). "In Mexico, no jail time for small amounts of drugs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 February 2018. 
  13. ^ a b c d e f Janikian, Michelle (14 September 2017). "Legal Pot In Mexico: Everything You Need to Know". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 November 2017. 
  14. ^ "Northern Lights; Marijuana in Mexico". The Economist. December 24, 2016. 
  15. ^ Diaz, Berenice Rocio Toboada (September 6, 2013). "Mexico; Marijuana Ignites National Debate". La Prensa San Diego. 
  16. ^ "Mexico court ruling could eventually lead to legal marijuana". BBC. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015. 
  17. ^ Malkin, Elisabeth; Ahmed, Azam (4 November 2015). "Ruling in Mexico Sets Into Motion Legal Marijuana". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 November 2017. 
  18. ^ a b Osborne, Samuel (21 June 2017). "Mexico legalises medical marijuana". The Independent. Retrieved 15 November 2017. 
  19. ^ "Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s CBD Oil RSHO-X(TM) Garners National News Coverage Across Mexico After News of Country's Medical Cannabis Legalization". PR Newswire. May 12, 2017. 
  20. ^ "Benefits of Marijuana Legalization in California". www.canorml.org. Retrieved 2018-04-09. 

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cannabis_in_Mexico&oldid=852178777"