Hello! Welcome back to the Latin America Weekly newsletter. In this issue, we explain Mexico’s decision moving towards allowing recreational marijuana; how Latin America is exposed to earthquake damage, and the lingering challenges for the region’s LGBTQIA+ population.
Mexico scraps recreational marijuana ban
By an 8-3 majority, Mexico’s Supreme Court struck down laws criminalizing the recreational use of cannabis in the country. The decision paves the way for legalization and allows any adult citizen to apply for a permit from the Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (Cofepris) to plant, harvest, transport, and consume cannabis.
- Medical marijuana has been legal in the country since 2017. Back in November 2018, the court declared Mexico’s ban on recreational cannabis unconstitutional, ordering Congress to enact legislation on the matter.
- In March, the lower house passed a bill legalizing personal consumption of cannabis — but a gridlocked Senate missed an April 30 deadline, prompting the Supreme Court to step in once again.
Why it matters. Experts argue that the full decriminalization of cannabis possession would be a crucial first step toward reducing drug-related violence in Mexico. It could also “strengthen the country’s economy after the pandemic, as this industry could create productive...