Mexico Legalizes Marijuana as Medicine Not Recreation

On June 19, 2017, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto signed a measure into law that legalizes marijuana for research and medicinal purposes.

“Starting today, the medical use of marijuana in Mexico is authorized,” said Manuel Mondragón y Kalb, Director of the National Commission against Addictions, as reported by the PanAm Post. “But not for recreation,” he added.

Under the new law, medical marijuana strength will be capped at 1% THC and the Ministry of Health will be responsible for crafting rules and regulations. However, the ministry will be required to study the medicinal and therapeutic properties of marijuana before any regulations can be drafted.

As Mexico legalizes marijuana for research and medicinal purposes, the measure also decriminalizes the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana.

Speaking at NCIA’s 4th Annual Cannabis Business Summit & Expo, former Mexican president Vincente Fox praised the direction his country is taking with marijuana reform and called on international leaders to work marijuana commerce into international law.

“This product cannabis has to be integrated into NAFTA,” Fox said, as quoted by the San Francisco Chronicle. “It has to have the trade potential of moving without barriers, without taxes and limits, only complying with the law, the consumer and his health. And he is willing to consume this product.”