The Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved the …

The Mexican Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday approved a law that decriminalize recreational, scientific, medical and industrial marijuana, but made changes to the bill that was assented to last November by the Senate, to which it will have to return for its final consideration and approval.

The legislation, which will mark a milestone in a country plagued by drug cartel violence and which would create the largest cannabis market in the world by population size, it was approved by 316 votes in favor, 129 against and 23 abstentions.

“This leaves behind the false appreciation that cannabis is one of the serious public health problems in Mexico. On the contrary (…) the prohibitionist regulations have only succeeded in worsening the problem and generated an increase in the trafficking of drugs and deaths, “said Simey Olvera, MP for the ruling Morena party.

“Today we make historyAdded the assembler with a chin strap stamped with marijuana leaves.

In November, the Senate approved legalizing the cultivation of marijuana, but the lower house postponed discussion of the law, arguing it needed more time to analyze it.

The bill must return to the Senate, where the ruling party also has a majority, for which it is excluded that it becomes law and will take effect once published in the Official Journal.

In this way, Mexico will become the third country in the world to legalize the recreational use of cannabis, with Uruguay and Canada. Other countries on the continent like Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru only allow medicinal use.

What the law says

The regulations provide that the state may grant five types of licenses to control the stages of cultivation, processing, sale, research and export or import of marijuana.

The “General Law for the Regulation of Cannabis,” proposed by Morena, states that Only people over the age of 18 can cultivate, transport and consume marijuana and its derivatives.

In addition, the possession of 28 grams per person. If someone was found with between 28 grams and 200 grams of marijuana without permission, they would be fined, while possession of more than 200 grams would result in criminal penalties.

However, lawmakers have yet to approve dozens of reserved articles that could lead to changes in the rule’s application.

“We are very concerned that vertical integration is allowed, leaving the way open for large foreign companies and blocking the way for Community producers: the decision aims to make the use of substances a business and not a right” , said Ana Lucía Riojas. independent deputy.

Regarding marketing, The regulations allow individuals and businesses to sell cannabis to adults in licensed establishments. The state will establish the maximum levels of THC (psychoactive substance in marijuana) and CBD (cannabidiol) that can be marketed

Additionally, it is proposed that hemp be regulated differently from psychoactive cannabis. The plant is used for its strong fiber, as an ecological fuel, to make cellulose paper and for its seeds rich in omega 3.

Some industry players, including Khiron Life Sciences, Canopy Growth and The Green Organic Dutchman of Canada, and Californian Medical Marijuana, Inc., have already advanced their decision to participate in a market of 126 million people, the largest square in a multi-million dollar marketplace.

Since taking office in December 2018, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has promoted the decriminalization of marijuana and other drugs, as part of his strategy to fight the powerful organized crime that has mourned tens of thousands of families. Mexican.