Why other countries are legalizing weed before the US

Marijuana policy in the United States has been in the news a lot, but often it’s the country’s inaction that grabs the headlines. Is that it? MORE act Float in limbo and fail, and a strongly worded Letter While he is pushing the president for a change in marijuana laws from his closest allies, America’s federal marijuana policy is not “visionary” right now.

While the nation and many of its individual states have changed significantly over the past decade when it comes to attitudes towards marijuana, it can be argued that federal policy has fallen far behind the American psyche and perhaps even global consciousness. As America maintains its coy attitude toward marijuana, surrounding counties have taken concrete action.

What reasons have other countries found to legalize and decriminalize marijuana while the US continues to fail to find its rationalization?

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Mexico

If you ask our nearest neighbor to the south why legalizing marijuana is a good idea, the answer will likely include hopes for a reduction in violent crime. Mexico’s Supreme Court last year voted 8-3 to decriminalize marijuana, legalizing its medicinal use and cultivation. That decision came “after advocates pushed for decriminalization as a way to reduce drug-fueled cartel violence in the country,” according to the statement CNN. While drug-fuelled violence wasn’t the sole justification for this decision, it’s worth noting that justification for changing marijuana policy can come from any direction.

Thailand

As the US continues its debate on marijuana, Thailand has made history as the first Asian country to legalize marijuana at the medical level. The country has made it clear that smoking joints in public is still heavily criminalized, but it has legalized marijuana as a medicine. Even with medical marijuana getting the green light, Thailand can still use it as an opportunity to boost tourism.

“Thailand wants to make a splash primarily in the medical marijuana market,” it said NPR. With so few places with legalized cannabis around, it stands a great opportunity. Finally, “It already has a well-developed medical tourism industry and its tropical climate is ideal for growing cannabis,” the article continued. Thailand also releases many inmates serving sentences for nonviolent marijuana crimes, which many American lawmakers are pushing (yet unsuccessfully) with marijuana decriminalization laws.

Malta

Thailand wasn’t the only country making international headlines for its marijuana legalization. Malta became the first European nation to legalize marijuana in late 2021. Although it has not opened any cannabis lounges or dispensaries, it has legalized the use and cultivation of cannabis. The reasons for this are quite similar to those of Mexico.

Photo by Karl Paul Baldacchino via Unsplash

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“The government said the new law aims to end the criminalization of people for smoking the drug and curb the criminal trade,” the government said New York Times. Legalizing and thus regulating it, rather than fighting an underground criminal market, appears to be a motivating factor in several countries that legalized cannabis before the US.

Switzerland

Most recently, Switzerland lifted its ban on medical marijuana, legalizing medical cannabis from August. The new move even allows the export of medical cannabis, allows the export of medical cannabis. One of the main reasons for this shift seems to have to do with the growing popularity of medicinal cannabis and the increased level of back-office work that has developed as a result of that popularity. “The Federal Council justified the legalization of medical cannabis in the country with the fact that the demand for approvals has increased in recent years. This involved a significant administrative burden and slowed down medical treatment,” corresponding forbes. In 2019 alone, the Ministry of Health issued 3,000 exemptions.

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There are a variety of reasons why countries are making great strides in legalizing cannabis while the United States lags behind. The justifications are varied, from hope to less crime to increasing medical tourism. The US has many reasons to choose from, but has yet to choose a single reason strong enough to propel the country into a post-marijuana era.