Mexico Legalises Medical Marijuana
- The bill signals the end of criminalising acts related to medicinal use of cannabis and allows scientific research on the plant
- THC is to remain highly regulated, with medical cannabis only being permitted to contain less than 1% THC
Mexico has just joined the ranks of countries allowing its citizens the human right of choice over their medicine by passing a bill legalising cannabis for medicinal purposes.
The bill passed back in April, receiving overwhelming support from member of Congress, with an overwhelming 371 members of the Lower House of Congress voting in favour. Only 19 politicians voted against or abstained.
It also received popular support from the Mexican Senate in December, with 98 senators voting to pass the bill and seven voting against.
The ruling eliminates the prohibition and criminalisation of acts related to the medicinal use of marijuana and its scientific research.
“I welcome the approval of the therapeutic use of cannabis in Mexico.” – Secretary of Health, Dr. José Narro Robles
The law authorises the Ministry of Health to create new regulations for medical marijuana use, as well as “how to regulate the research and national production of them.”
Currently, only cannabis that is 1% or less THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid) will be permitted. The Ministry of Health will be required to study the medicinal and therapeutic effects of cannabis before creating the framework for a medical marijuana program infrastructure.
Recreational cannabis remains explicitly illegal.
Signed by Mexico’s President, Peña Nieto, the bill signals a clear push to end prohibition of cannabis in the country.
This isn’t the President’s first attempt at reducing the cost of policing cannabis in Mexico. In 2016 Nieto tried to pass a bill which would have allowed citizens to carry up to an ounce on them without fear of legal repercussions, but the bill stalled in the Senate.
His latest attempt, The Medical Marijuana Bill, however, sailed through the Senate with ease in December 2016, passing through Mexico’s lower house in parliament in April with a vote of 347-7 in favour of approval.
Voicing his support for the measure, Mexico’s Secretary of Health, Dr. José Narro Robles, said: “I welcome the approval of the therapeutic use of cannabis in Mexico.”
With more and more countries legalising cannabis for medicinal purposes, is it now time for the UK to end its war on science and compassion? Let us know in the comments below!