Marijuana reform activists were cautiously optimistic this week after Mexico’s lower house (Camara de Diputados) approved a bill that will allow adults to smoke cannabis legally and grow their own plants.
The legislation will permit adults age 18 and older to purchase and possess up to 28 grams of marijuana and cultivate up to six plants for personal use.
The house voted 316-129 to approve a bill that had undergone key revisions since it was approved by the Senate last year.
A major change is a requirement that people who want to grow their own cannabis at home will need to register with the government.
In addition, cannabis producers will need to meet strict legal requirements in order to obtain licenses to grow and sell the plant for recreational purposes.
Some cannabis activists expressed concerns that these licensing requirements could squeeze out small farmers and allow transnational firms to gain a stranglehold on the marijuana market.
Please login or subscribe to view the complete article.