Mexico decriminalizes recreational cannabis – breaking cannabis news today

Imagine relaxing on the beaches of Mexico and legally able to smoke a joint. If this sounds great to you, get ready for some good news. The laws against recreational cannabis in Mexico were repealed on Monday. Soon you will be able to order more than just a beer at the bar. Just don’t light it yet! Here’s what you need to know about recreational cannabis regulations in Mexico.

Before decriminalization

On Monday, recreational cannabis use was completely banned in Mexico. Previously, you had to apply to the court for an individual injunction to grow and consume your own plants. The first injunctions were issued against four applicants back in 2015, and that was just the beginning. After further injunctions were issued, the courts ordered the need to create a legal cannabis market. The contract came in 2017, but because of the multiple renewals required, Congress has made little progress.

Recreational cannabis in Mexico today

If you would like to use recreational cannabis in Mexico, you can now apply for a permit from the Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS). The costs related to the motion have not been disclosed, but hopefully they will be less than the previous alternative, an injunction. When a permit is granted, the holder can:

• Grow the eight plants
• Own and transport up to 28 grams of dried flowers
• Private consumption

Without a permit, it is illegal to carry more than five grams of dried cannabis flowers. Use of cannabis in public or in the presence of minors is still illegal, and there is no mention of the use of cannabis edibles, topicals, or extracts.

Go forward

There is a positive outlook for the future of recreational cannabis in Mexico, but activists say that is not enough. Zara Snapp, co-founder of the think tank Instituto RIA, said, “This is a step forward for cannabis users’ rights, but there is still a lot to be done in Congress to regulate the market in a socially fair manner.” Proponents of this law hope that decriminalization will reduce drug-related violence. Unfortunately, it might be a little too late because the cartels are not interested in cannabis today; hard drugs, kidnapping, and blackmail are much more lucrative.

Would you like to smoke weed in Mexico? What do you think of these legislative changes? We want to hear your opinion! Let us know in the comments or on our social media.

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