Mexico Supreme Court Ruling Could Lead to Pot Legalization

Personal cultivation legalized but sales, production and consumption remain illegal

On Wednesday, November 4, Mexico's high court ruled to allow the cultivation of recreational Cannabis plants, a move that some predict will lead to complete legalization of marijuana in the country.

That would make Mexico the first nation in North America to legalize Cannabis outright. Such complete legalization is still not imminent, as technically the court's ruling did not legalize the actual consumption of the plant.

Many see the legal judgment as a firm step towards liberalizing the drug laws in a country plagued by the consequences of harsh drug war policies. Cartel violence and trafficking have only increased, thus it has become clear to both residents and lawmakers that policies need to change and new avenues probed.

According to Reuters, the court voted four-to-one that prohibiting the cultivation of personal amounts of Cannabis was unconstitutional. This was based upon a previous case from 2013 in which an advocacy organization was prohibited by health officials from cultivating personal gardens.

Across the globe, both medical and recreational weed users argue that prohibition leads to more crime, as those seeking a safe supply are forced to consort with black market dealers in order to buy pot. Allowing personal cultivation removes the need to rely upon potentially dangerous dealers, additionally removing the element of uncertainty as to exactly what that bag of Cannabis contains.

In spite of his previous reticence towards the benefits of liberalizing drug laws, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto stated on Twitter that the ruling would "open a debate on the best regulation to inhibit drug consumption."

The next step would be to legalize the consumption of the drug, although the country's president later clarified that, not only would that not be happening anytime soon, but that police raids on growers would continue.

"This does not mean that you can freely commercialize, consume and legalize the consumption of marijuana," Peña Nieto later clarified.

Although the sales and production of marijuana remain illegal, in 2009 it became legal to posses up to five grams. There is currently no medical Cannabis program in Mexico.