No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsBusinessMexico's Peña Nieto wants expert debate on marijuana legalization

Mexico’s Peña Nieto wants expert debate on marijuana legalization

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s president indicated on Monday that his administration could drop its opposition to legalizing marijuana based on results of a debate of experts on the matter.

Five days after the Supreme Court authorized four people to grow their own pot for consumption, President Enrique Peña Nieto said he would convene medical experts, sociologists, academics and civil society to debate the issue.

“I have always said that I, personally, am not in favor of an eventual legalization of marijuana,” Peña Nieto said during a security forum, warning that cannabis could lead to the consumption harder drugs. “However, I can’t be the sole owner of the truth.”

He added: “I am open, and I will remain open as president, to collecting documented, scientifically proven positions that could eventually lead to a different position.”

If that were to be the case, Peña Nieto said, the government and the Congress would have to come up with “convenient and prudent legislation” to regulate marijuana.

The top court’s landmark Nov. 4 ruling, though limited to just four people, raised hope against supporters of marijuana legalization that Mexico would drop its ban.

Four more similar rulings by the Supreme Court would set a legal precedent to change the law.

The four members of the Mexican Society for Responsible and Tolerant Personal Use (the Spanish acronym is SMART), who won the court ruling, said their goal is to force Congress to legislate.

The group believes that legalizing marijuana in Mexico would dry up a major source of revenue for drug cartels, leading to a reduction in the gang turf wars that have killed tens of thousands of people.

Popular Articles

Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Opens, Redefining Luxury Tourism

The Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, a $200 million luxury resort, opened its doors on Tuesday, marking a milestone in Costa Rica’s rise...

VIDEO: Poás Volcano Erupts with 3.5 km Ash Plume, OVSICORI Reports

This morning at approximately 5:15 a.m., Poás Volcano erupted yet again, producing a significant ash plume that soared 3.5 kilometers above the crater, according...

Poás Volcano Eruptions Deliver Economic Blow to Costa Rican Tourism

The recent eruptions of Poás Volcano in Costa Rica have significantly disrupted tourism in nearby communities, including Poás, Poasito, Fraijanes, Vara Blanca, and Los...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait

Latest Articles