Mayor Of Azcapotzalco, Mexico Sends Draft Cannabis Legalization Legislation To Federal Lawmakers

In late 2018 Mexico made international headlines when the Supreme Court ruled that cannabis prohibition was unconstitutional. The Court, via its ruling, tasked lawmakers in Mexico to pass legislation that would implement a regulated cannabis legalization system.

Lawmakers were given a one-year deadline in which to comply with the Court’s decision. That deadline was not complied with and an extension was granted. Due to the ongoing pandemic, that extension was not met either, and another extension was granted. Lawmakers now have until the end of the year to comply with the Court’s directive.

Proposals are being kicked around right now, with some appearing to be gaining more traction than others. The Mayor of Azcapotzalco has offered up their suggestion for what legalization should look like in Mexico, as covered by La Silla Rota:

The mayor of Azcapotzalco, Vidal Villegas Morales sent an initiative with a draft decree to the Congress of Mexico City to allow the recreational use of marijuana.

The initiative proposes to reform and add provisions of the CDMX Law for the Comprehensive Care of Psychoactive Substance Use, in the field of cannabis.

The suggested changes are a reform to section XXXII of article 3 of said legislation on the reduction of risks and damages, among others.

Only time will tell if the proposal gains traction and ultimately becomes law in Mexico. One way or another, at some point Mexico will implement an adult-use legalization cannabis system, and it will be a very significant victory for not just Mexico, but also for the rest of the world.

Mexico has long been a major source for unregulated cannabis for the other countries, especially the United States. If/when Mexico can transition away from an unregulated system to a regulated one, it will send ripple effects around the globe.