Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has announced that the country will soon legalize medical marijuana and that he is open to decriminalization in the future. Guadalajara Reporter staffer Stephen Woodman took the pulse of Ajijic expats Wednesday asking them:
“Do you think this is a good thing for Mexico?”
“I think it will be good. I think it will cut down on people getting in trouble. And I’m all in favor of medical marijuana anywhere in the world. It’s been proven to help people,”
Linda Dunn, originally from the U.S., five-year Lakeside resident.
“Marijuana is a drug. It alters the brain and I don’t think this a good thing,”
Sandie Dekeyser, originally from the U.S., one-year Lakeside resident.
“It’s absolutely a good thing for Mexico. First of all there will be less criminals. Secondly, it lowers the market and makes it less valuable. Legalize it and tax it,”
Mike Sanders, originally from the U.K, 13-year lakeside resident.
“I think it’s good for Mexico. There will be less people being criminalized and the people who need it medically can get it,”
Carole Daddio, originally from the U.S., 31-year lakeside resident.
“I think regulation is a good idea. Hopefully the profits from that would be used for social programs,”
Monica Petrowitsch, originally from Canada, four-year lakeside resident.
“It shouldn’t be illegal in the first place. It’s probably a whole lot safer than alcohol, although I like both,”
Bob Moore, originally from the U.S., 14-year lakeside resident.
“I don’t think it makes any difference. It’s a good thing if the government takes the money and uses it for a good purpose. But to fight against criminals? No. They’ll find something else to sell.”
Joan Whyte, originally from Canada, 10-year lakeside resident.
“Hallelujah brothers and sisters! They could make so much money on this… I say turn it over to the cartel and let them go legitimate, open a pot shop on every corner,”
Jeff Jones, originally from the U.S., two-year lakeside resident.
“I think it’s a rational thing wherever. They can focus on real crimes,”
Name withheld on request.
“People have to be responsible for their own actions. The government cannot tell them what to do in every respect. If they’re not responsible they pay the price,”
Libbie Colterjohn, originally from Scotland, 20-year lakeside resident.
“I think it will stop a lot of the crime and a lot of the killings,”
Hattie Matsumoto, originally from the U.S. nine-year lakeside resident.
“It’s a great thing all over the world. Period. It will keep people out of jail that shouldn’t be in jail,”
Name withheld on request.
“I think it will help cut down on cartel profits,”
Lynn Gilbank, originally from Canada, seven-year lakeside resident.
“I used to be a park ranger in northern California, we could always tell when the kids came from Inland and when they came from Humble County. Humble County was a pot smoking county. Inland was a beer drinking crowd and they were the noisiest and most disruptive. We always wanted to have the mellow kids around. If alcohol is legal I think marijuana should be legal too,”
Patricia Wagoner, originally from Zimbabwe, two-year lakeside resident.