You've probably seen drug dealers selling marijuana and gun battles between them and the police in movies and dramas. Though marijuana is prescribed for medical purposes in some countries and is legal in many states in the United States and Canada, it is strictly managed worldwide. There is a movement to legalize marijuana in Mexico.
The Status Quo of Legalization of Marijuana in Mexico
Currently, marijuana is illegal in Mexico, except for medical marijuana, which was legalized in 2017. However, there are signs signaling that this will soon change. A bill to legalize recreational marijuana was passed by the Senate in November 2020. On March 10th, 2021, the Mexican House of Representatives passed the bill with 316 votes in favor out of 468 votes. Due to the Supreme Court's deadline to enact a change of policy by April 30th, Mexico's Senate said they were ready to approve a revised bill reflecting the amendments made by the House of Representatives. According to Marijuana Moment[1], a key senator of the opposition, Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar, said "Our priority is that the legislation comes into force- and the only way to get it out is by accepting it.” After senators pass the bill, the bill comes into effect when Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador signs it. According to the New York Times, President Lopez is expected to sign the bill, so the bill should go into effect without much difficulty after passing the Senate. Senators are expected to pass the bill sometime in April, according to CNN.
If the bill is passed, marijuana will be legal in Mexico alongside several U.S. states, Uruguay, and Canada. The bill would allow adults over the age of 18 to legally purchase marijuana and allow individual users to carry up to 28 grams of marijuana per person for recreational use, up from the previous 5 grams allowed for medical use. It also allows the growing of a total of eight cannabis plants at home for the purpose of personal consumption. Organizations granted authorization from the authorities are allowed mass production, research, and the ability to import and export marijuana.
Expected Effects of the Legalization of Marijuana
Some opinions say that the legalization of marijuana will end the long drug war between Mexico's government and the drug cartels that produce and traffic drugs. The drug war began in December 2006 when former President Felipe Calderon, then president, began cracking down on drug cartels. Contrary to Calderon's intention, however, by the end of his six-year term, the amount of violence related to drug and drug cartels had increased, and the influence of drug cartels had spread to a wider area. Therefore, the bill is expected to have a positive effect as it will bring the marijuana business, which used to occur under the table, to the surface. It will weaken the influence of drug cartels, reduce crime related to drug cartels, and allow consumers to buy high quality products safely at reasonable prices. In addition, police and military personnel involved in driving out drug cartels can be used to solve other critical issues in Mexico, such as kidnapping, corruption, and murder.
Also, the passage of the bill will make Mexico the world's largest marijuana market, as it has a population of more than 120 million. Some expect that marijuana legalization will have the effect of reviving Mexico's economy, which has been slumping due to COVID-19. Juan Sánchez Mejorada, CEO of the medical cannabis company Ceres Soluciones, commented “It’s an excellent economic, natural, ethical, and moral solution for a country in need. Doing this right could give Mexico an economic surplus," about the bill.
Some Points of Concern
However, if marijuana is legalized, not only advantages exist. As marijuana became legal in other countries too, drug cartels in Mexico started to deal more in other drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, which are more profitable than marijuana. Although officials say drugs from Mexico account for one-third of the drugs in the U.S., the proportion of marijuana handled by Mexican drug cartels decreased. Marijuana takes up a relatively small share of Mexico's drug trade market, so the impact on drug cartels will be weaker than expected. Therefore, some opinions say that marijuana legalization may not be enough to drive out Mexico's drug cartels. Also, drug cartels are mostly involved in other illegal activities and businesses outside of drugs, including the smuggling of arms and human trafficking. That's why an economist and lawyer from Columbia University, Edgardo Buscaglia, said that even legalizing all kinds of drugs, not only marijuana, would not be enough to eliminate crime related to these drug cartels.
Also, the passage of the bill could damage farmers in areas under the influence of drug cartels. These farmers are not members of the cartel but have grown marijuana for the drug cartels for years to make a living. If cultivating marijuana for drug cartels is cut off, it is not yet determined what support and benefits the Mexican government is able to provide them. Falko Ernst, an analyst for Mexico at the International Crisis Group[2], said, "For most areas where you have these high-conflict settings [by drug cartels], there are not enough state resources to truly take on organized crime groups.", highlighting the need for policies that consider the real circumstances.
The legalization of marijuana in Mexico is a policy that has both advantages and disadvantages. It is true that the policy does not seem perfect yet. If the government makes up for the concerns with appropriate measures, the legalization of marijuana could be an opportunity. Mexico could end the war with drug cartels and simultaneously revive the country's economy. Let's wait and see about what decision the Senate of Mexico will make.