By Diego Oré MEXICO CITY, March
By Diego Oré
MEXICO CITY, March 10 (Reuters) – Mexico’s decrease home of Congress on Wednesday authorized a invoice that might decriminalize hashish for leisure, medical and scientific makes use of, bringing it a step nearer to creating one of many world’s largest markets for the plant.
Backed by the administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the invoice marks a significant shift in a rustic bedeviled for years by violence between feuding drug cartels.
Lawmakers authorized the invoice usually with 316 votes in favor and 127 in opposition to. Now, the Senate must evaluation and approve the invoice.
If handed, the legislation would create an enormous market, which international corporations are wanting to faucet.
The invoice would enable 5 sorts of licenses for the cultivation, transformation, sale, analysis and export or import of marijuana. Solely individuals 18 years and older, and with a allow, would have the ability to develop, carry or devour marijuana and its derivatives.
“At present we’re making historical past,” stated Simey Olvera, a lawmaker from Lopez Obrador’s ruling Morena social gathering who was carrying a masks with marijuana leaves printed on it.
“With this, the false perception that hashish kinds a part of Mexico’s critical well being issues is left behind.”
Lopez Obrador, whose ruling Morena social gathering has a majority in each chambers of Congress, has argued that decriminalizing hashish and different narcotics may assist fight Mexico’s highly effective drug cartels.
In late 2013, Uruguay turned the primary nation on the earth to legalize the manufacturing and sale of marijuana in trendy occasions. Different international locations within the area, resembling Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru, enable its medical use.
In 2018, Canada additionally legalized marijuana, together with leisure use, with a number of giant U.S. states additionally regulating its authorized use.
(Reporting by Diego Ore; modifying by Richard Pullin)
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