Mexico’s lower house approves recreational cannabis bill
Proponents of bill argue it will take market out of hands of powerful drug cartels
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Mexico’s lower house has approved a bill that would legalise the recreational use of cannabis, putting the country on the path to becoming one of the world’s largest regulated markets for the drug. Those in favour of the bill argue it will take the marijuana market out of the hands of Mexico’s powerful drug cartels and give it to the government. Experts welcomed the news but stuck a cautionary note, saying the bill could primarily benefit transnational corporations rather than the farmers who grow the crop. “Its very welcome to see another country moving away from the failures of prohibition and legally regulating cannabis,” said Steve Rolles, senior policy analyst at drugs reform charity Transform. “Unfortunately there are still problems with the newly revised bill that are less of a cause for celebration.”
