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Mexico close to legalizing recreational marijuana use

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Natalia Cano, Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/03/11/20210222-parallel-m-a-ceres-acqsn.jpg"/><figcaption>Marijuana plants are seen next to Mexico&#x27;s Senate building during a call for legalization, at the protest cannabis garden of the Cannabico Mexican Movement in Mexico City, Mexico, Sept. 24, 2020. <em>Carlos Jasso, Reuters/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MEXICO CITY - Mexico&#x27;s lower house of Congress voted Wednesday in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana use, in a step towards transforming the land of the drug cartels into a huge regulated market.</p><p>The legislation, which still needs final approval by the upper house, is partly aimed at curbing drug-related violence that claims thousands of lives each year in the Latin American nation.</p><p>The law would make Mexico, home to 126 million people, one of just a few countries, including Uruguay and Canada, to legalize cannabis for recreational use.</p><p>&quot;In theory, it will create the largest legal market in the world due to Mexico&#x27;s production capacity,&quot; said Lisa Sanchez, director of Mexico United Against Crime, a non-governmental organization.</p><p>In Mexico, &quot;marijuana grows in natural conditions without the energy investments that are made in Canada, for example,&quot; she said.</p><p>The lower house of Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, approved the bill by 316 votes to 129.</p><p>The legislation was already approved by the upper house, the Senate, in November, but it will be sent back for another vote following changes by the lower chamber.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/classified-odd/09/25/20/smoke-with-freedom-mexicans-get-high-in-marijuana-garden-outside-senate">&#x27;Smoke with freedom&#x27;: Mexicans get high in marijuana garden outside Senate</a></li></ul><div><strong>&#x27;ACHIEVING PEACE&#x27;</strong></div><p>The opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and conservative National Action Party (PAN) voted against the bill.</p><p>But they are outnumbered by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador&#x27;s Morena party and its allies in both chambers, and the legislation looks almost certain to be approved.</p><p>&quot;The law would contribute to achieving peace,&quot; Morena lawmaker Ruben Cayetano said.</p><p>PRI legislator Mariana Rodriguez, however, voiced concern that legalization would increase &quot;the rate of consumption and addiction.&quot;</p><p>A landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2015 opened the door to the recreational use of marijuana in Mexico.</p><p>But it is still illegal to carry more than 5 grams (0.18 ounces). The amount would increase to 28 grams under the proposed law.</p><p>Up to 8 plants would be allowed to be grown at home for personal consumption.</p><p>Pro-legalization activist Genlizzie Garibay said that although Mexico is &quot;entering the discussion late,&quot; the law is &quot;a step forward&quot; for society, producers and consumers.</p><p>But she described it as an &quot;elitist law... written from fear, stigma and positions of power.&quot;</p><p>Activists are concerned that cannabis would remain on the list of prohibited substances under the health law, and would not be decriminalized for possession of more than 28 grams.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/03/20/un-drug-agency-loosens-global-controls-on-cannabis-following-who-advice">UN drug agency loosens global controls on cannabis, following WHO advice</a></li></ul><div><strong>FINES AND ARRESTS</strong></div><p>&quot;The production and sale will be legal, but possession will still be subject to the threat of police action, fines and possible arrests,&quot; said Sanchez.</p><p>&quot;It does not solve one of the main problems in Mexico: the misuse of security and justice resources,&quot; she added.</p><p>The reform may also end up preventing farmers from marginalized and poor areas from entering the legal business, activists say.</p><p>They warn that labeling, production and seed requirements are standard for established companies, but not for traditional producers.</p><p>Legalization also risks a backlash from drug cartels who control the lucrative illegal trade.</p><p>In 2020, Mexican authorities seized 244 tons of marijuana.</p><p>Lopez Obrador sees the legalization of some drugs as a way to improve security in a country plagued by drug-related violence.</p><p>More than 300,000 people have been murdered since the government deployed the army to fight the cartels in 2006.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/34gzYMPO46I?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div> </div>

<p>Mexico's lower house of Congress voted Wednesday in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana use, in a step towards transforming the land of the drug cartels into a huge regulated market.</p>

Mexico's lower house of Congress voted Wednesday in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana use, in a step towards transforming the land of the drug cartels into a huge regulated market.

Mexico close to legalizing recreational marijuana use

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Mexico close to legalizing recreational marijuana use

Natalia Cano,

Agence France-Presse

Published Mar 11, 2021 10:21 AM PHT

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