Mexico's Supreme Court legalizes cannabis for recreational use

[workinclasszero]

By Patrick Timmons UPI WORLD NEWS OCT. 31, 2018 / 6:38 PM

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Drug policy reformers claimed victory in Mexico City Wednesday after the country's Supreme Court handed down two rulings legalizing cannabis for all forms of non-commercial adult use.

"The rulings pave the way for adults to use marijuana in any way they see fit. We aren't just talking about recreational use," Froylán Enciso, a drug policy researcher at Mexico's social sciences institute, the CIDE, told UPI.

In the first case, a plaintiff wanting to grow his own marijuana applied to the court for an "amparo," a form of constitutional protection from prosecution, so that he can plant, cultivate, harvest, prepare, possess and transport marijuana.

In the second case, another plaintiff also applied for an amparo to consume marijuana for recreational purposes.

The next step toward legalization of cannabis for non-commercial purposes is that the Supreme Court must inform Mexico's Congress within 90 days that prohibiting adult use is unconstitutional. Congress then has to reform the laws the court found unconstitutional. If Congress does not act, every adult prosecuted for using marijuana can also apply for protection from the judicial system.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2018/10/31/Mexicos-Supreme-Court-legalizes-cannabis-for-recreational-use/9621541024238/

[democratisphere]

1. First Canada, now Mexico.

Wonder when the archaic USA will come into the Stoned Age?!

[maxsolomon]

3. One could argue that WA and CO prompted Canada to legalize.

The whole West Coast is already there. It's basically Republicans that are preventing it.

[workinclasszero]

8. "It's ̶b̶a̶s̶i̶c̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶ Republicans that are preventing it."

FTFY

[maxsolomon]

10. I'm loathe to bash Dem Pols on this site

but they haven't exactly been leading on this issue. barely even leading from behind.

WA & CO were Citizen's initiatives.

[workinclasszero]

11. Point taken

I wish all dems running in the midterms would have cannabis legalization as an important part of their platform but I'm sure that's not the case.

I would think it would appeal to younger folks as well and get some added youth vote, but what do I know?

[workinclasszero]

9. Republicans use the 'war on drugs' as a racial tool to oppress and imprison PoC

So never as long as they are in charge.

[Achilleaze]

2. "Build a wall" - Dirty Donny* (R)

* aka republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief & republican family-values role model

[anarch]

4. yay, now the U.S. is officially the ass-backward nation of the bunch from North America!

I mean it was kinda evident before, but this just seals it for me.

Puritanical bullshit. What I don't get is that we are talking about a plant, that grows out of the ground. Part of God's creation...do the moral, "Christian" legislators that seem intent on keeping the plant illegal think that God fucked up or something? Like, they know better than God? That doesn't make sense to me at all.

[GWC58]

5. But man made alcohol/liquor, that really does

kill, is perfectly legal to consume and possess. So tell me evangelicals, did God make a mistake when He created the cannabis plant? Your dislike of the plant, and those that use it is the only explanation I can think of. A bunch of phony hypocrites is what you are! 😳😧

[anarch]

7. yeah, and don't even get me started about the practical implications of prohibition

That drives me crazy too, all these people losing their minds about the "criminal element" and drug-related violence coming from our southern neighbors...but none of that would exist if it weren't for the stupid prohibition laws.

Of course you are correct, all of this anti-drug legislatin' was largely done out of racist motives, and that's still largely why it remains in place...think about how black kids are treated when they get caught with drugs vs. how white kids are. It's purely a tool of oppression.

[bakpakr]

6. Sessions won't let it happen.

But I think the writing is on the wall the way tRump was going off about him that after the MidTerms he is gone.