Mexico court ruling sparks marijuana legalisation hopes



MEXICO CITY: -- In Mexico, supporters of drug reform have been celebrating a Supreme Court decision that could lead to the legalisation of marijuana.

Ruling on a case first brought in 2013 by an advocacy group that health regulators stopped from growing plants for private consumption, the court voted 4-1 that prohibiting people from cultivating the drug for personal use was unconstitutional.

Four more consecutive decisions of the same kind would set a legal precedent and force the government to review the law.

Proponents say it is the best way to fight drug-related crime and a rising prison population.

Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto, who has so far been skeptical about the merits of liberalising drug laws, urged caution.

“This ruling will open the door to a broad debate on the best way to regulate marijuana consumption. We need to establish measures so people clearly know which are or aren’t the adverse effects of marijuana use,” he said.

Pena Nieto also added that raids to destroy illegal marijuana crops will continue apace.

As deaths from drug violence increase, political pressure has mounted on Mexico to follow the example of Uruguay and some US states to soften its stance.

Marijuana, along with cocaine, heroin and crystal meth, has been a major source of income for cartels that authorities say generate billions of dollars worth of sales annually.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-11-05

If Mexico can beat the US to full legalization of marijuana, that would be great on many levels.

Unfortunately, the drug cartels will still be in business with cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, and any number of other illegal drugs. Nevertheless, the right step in my humble opinion.

First step on a slippery slope.

First step on a slippery slope.

Towards a better future for Mexico!

First step on a slippery slope.

Towards a better future for Mexico!

Not exactly what I was thinking.

Don't bogart that joint ... or however you say that in Mexican.

Don't bogart that joint ... or however you say that in Mexican.

Something like: "No lo hagas Bogart que el cannabis cigarrillo"

I think that many of you are missing the major point that the drug problem in Mexico has little to do with domestic consumption. The drug problem in Mexico has everything to do with the drug addiction problem north of the border.

Legalize pot, legalize cocaine, won't do anything to stop the drug cartels and their violence. Thats all driven by the $$$$ derived from the drug trade in the US.

The fastest, easiest, least expensive, and most effective way to hurt the Mexican drug cartels is to legalize marijuana.

I think that many of you are missing the major point that the drug problem in Mexico has little to do with domestic consumption. The drug problem in Mexico has everything to do with the drug addiction problem north of the border.

Legalize pot, legalize cocaine, won't do anything to stop the drug cartels and their violence. Thats all driven by the $$$$ derived from the drug trade in the US.

While it has most to do with American consumption of illegal drugs, the consumption in Mexico is way more than a "little." You ... like most people ... under estimate the population of Mexico.

2015 Populations:

Mexico ... 123.8-million

Canada ... 35.7-million

USA ... 322.5-million

First step on a slippery slope.

The only slippery slope is the high ground to which you are pretending...

A hint: you're standing in the sewer quoting Rush Windbag...and declaring it gospel by regurgitating a sound byte.

Congratulations! You're a tool...and a happy tool, too.

I think that many of you are missing the major point that the drug problem in Mexico has little to do with domestic consumption. The drug problem in Mexico has everything to do with the drug addiction problem north of the border.

Legalize pot, legalize cocaine, won't do anything to stop the drug cartels and their violence. Thats all driven by the $$$$ derived from the drug trade in the US.

While it has most to do with American consumption of illegal drugs, the consumption in Mexico is way more than a "little." You ... like most people ... under estimate the population of Mexico.

2015 Populations:

Mexico ... 123.8-million

Canada ... 35.7-million

USA ... 322.5-million

I'm Mexican American, so I am fully aware of the population of Mexico. I was in no way denying that there is a drug problem, there is in nearly every country, but what I was saying was it's the huge $$ to be made in the US & Europe that drives the cartels and by extension the violence. The money that they generate within Mexico is chicken feed

First step on a slippery slope.

Yeah, like this would be the first time Mexico sees marijuana.

I think that many of you are missing the major point that the drug problem in Mexico has little to do with domestic consumption. The drug problem in Mexico has everything to do with the drug addiction problem north of the border.

Legalize pot, legalize cocaine, won't do anything to stop the drug cartels and their violence. Thats all driven by the $$$$ derived from the drug trade in the US.

If both Mexico and the US legalize, then Mexico could become a legitimate supplier.

First step on a slippery slope.

The only slippery slope is the high ground to which you are pretending...

A hint: you're standing in the sewer quoting Rush Windbag...and declaring it gospel by regurgitating a sound byte.

Congratulations! You're a tool...and a happy tool, too.

The only tool here is you. I've never heard of the sound bite you are referring to and am quoting from my own experience of 45 years ago when I saw several people who started with marijuana end up on hard drugs. Two of them ended up in jail.

First step on a slippery slope.

The only slippery slope is the high ground to which you are pretending...

A hint: you're standing in the sewer quoting Rush Windbag...and declaring it gospel by regurgitating a sound byte.

Congratulations! You're a tool...and a happy tool, too.

The only tool here is you. I've never heard of the sound bite you are referring to and am quoting from my own experience of 45 years ago when I saw several people who started with marijuana end up on hard drugs. Two of them ended up in jail.

Nah. The gateway drug to drug addiction is MILK.

First step on a slippery slope.

The only slippery slope is the high ground to which you are pretending...

A hint: you're standing in the sewer quoting Rush Windbag...and declaring it gospel by regurgitating a sound byte.

Congratulations! You're a tool...and a happy tool, too.

The only tool here is you. I've never heard of the sound bite you are referring to and am quoting from my own experience of 45 years ago when I saw several people who started with marijuana end up on hard drugs. Two of them ended up in jail.

Nah. The gateway drug to drug addiction is MILK.

Such a nice container, too.

Such a nice container, too.

Mercifully I have no memory of my initiation into the milk cult of the mamaries. Otherwise, I'm sure I would be much traumatized.