President asks for liberalization of Mexico’s marijuana laws

Members of the Mexican Society of Responsible and Tolerant Self-Consumption received legal protection from Mexico's National Health for the recreational use of marijuana, in Mexico City on Dec. 11, 2015. Photo: Alfredo Estrella/AFP/Getty Images
Members of the Mexican Society of Responsible and Tolerant Self-Consumption received legal protection from Mexico’s National Health for the recreational use of marijuana, in Mexico City on Dec. 11, 2015. Photo: Alfredo Estrella/AFP/Getty Images

Mexico City — Congress will be asked to raise the limit on decriminalized marijuana and allow the use and importation of cannabis-based medication.

The new law would allow pot for personal use to 28 grams, or about one ounce, the president said today. That’s enough for 30-100 marijuana cigarettes, depending on their size.

Under current law, possession of five grams, or under a fifth of an ounce, is exempted from prosecution.

President Enrique Peña Nieto’s proposal also would allow the use and importation of cannabis-based medications.

And people who are on trial or serving time for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana would be freed under the proposal.

The Supreme Court recently approved an appeal by four people who grew and possessed marijuana for their own personal use.

Peña Nieto spoke at the U.N. Drug Policy Summit in New York on Tuesday, where he first announced his ambitions to loosen marijuana legislation.

Another Latin-American nation, Colombia, approved the use of medical marijuana late last year.

Yucatán Magazine
Yucatán Magazine
Yucatán Magazine has the inside scoop on living here. Sign up to get our top headlines delivered to your inbox every week.
- Advertisement -spot_img
AVAILABLE NOWspot_img
ADVERTISEMENTspot_img
Verified by ExactMetrics