Is marijuana legal in Mexico?
Cannabis is partially legal for personal use in Mexico. As of August 21, 2019, the Mexican government has decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, primarily for recreational purposes.
However, decriminalization is not the same as legalization. This means that instead of arresting or fining someone in possession of marijuana, authorities recommend that the person seek help from a rehab center.
A small amount of marijuana is no longer subject to criminal penalties. The maximum amount of weed that any person can possess is 5 grams. Anything over this amount may lead to trouble and result in a fine or jail.
In 2015, the Constitutional Court banned the growing of cannabis for personal use.
In 2021, the Supreme Court voted to legalize marijuana. Once officials finish adjusting and finalizing the proposed legalization bill, it may even be possible to plant sour diesel seeds in the garden without a special permit.
So, although marijuana was technically legalized, it is not officially legal. Until the government officially implements the bill and lawmakers rewrite the criminal code, marijuana use for all practical purposes will stay illegal.
So, is cannabis legal in Mexico? The simple answer is no.
Delays in the bill to fully legalize marijuana use
The significant delay in the Mexican weed legalization process has been the passing of the bill. While, in black-and-white terms, the Supreme Court law already voted, the document that will officially legalize weed is still under deliberation.
Government officials have given various reasons for the delay.
As the President stated, the main reason is that the bill is full of errors that could not be left uncorrected. The main problems, according to him, were inconsistency rather than anything more serious about the law itself.
To quote, the issues involved are “matters of form and not of substance.”
Understandable skepticism from a country torn by drug wars
The delays might be the result of skepticism among some in the government. While it may be disappointing, it’s understandable that government officials might be nervous about the drug being officially legalized.
After all, Mexico has been at war against drug trafficking and abuse for decades.
Some officials in the Mexican government may be hesitant to suddenly legalize a substance they have been fighting for so long. This overthinking can be subconscious and can affect how long it takes to complete the bill.
The overall process mainly depends on the bill’s correction.
Positive Consequences of Decriminalization and Legalization
While the official change to Mexico’s marijuana law may take some time, it promises great results. The USA Drug Enforcement Agency has reported a significant decline in illegal marijuana smuggling across Mexican borders.
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