Mexico City mayor’s marijuana legalization bill ignites national debate
Mexico City mayor’s marijuana legalization bill ignites national debate
Leftist party behind proposal remains divided over the issue
La marihuana enciende el debate en México
Raquel Seco Mexico City 8 AGO 2013 - 14:26 CET
The mayor of Mexico City has ignited a national debate by calling for a debate on the legalization of marijuana in the capital. But Miguel Ángel Mancera, the mayor and member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), may face an uphill battle after some members of his leftist grouping came out against the proposal.
Public institutions have also warned that Mancera’s proposal risks placing the entire nation in the midst of a policy confrontation with Washington.
Vidal Llerenas and Fernando Belaunzarán, two PRD deputies in the Federal District legislature, are preparing draft bills that call for the legalization of cannabis. These bills, to be presented next month, are expected to be similar to laws passed in the US state of Colorado and last week by the Chamber of Deputies in Uruguay.
While the debate begins to fire up nationally, some PRD members have given Mancera lukewarm support. Mexico City’s health secretary, Armando Ahued, said he favored opening discussions on the issue but added he wasn’t too enthusiastic about legalizing marijuana because, in his point of view, there is no medical benefit to be gained from doing so.
More:
http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/08/08/inenglish/1375964534_108650.html
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