On a momentous Friday for the country, the Lower House of Congress in Mexico passed a bill legalizing cannabis for medical and scientific purposes.
The bill passed congress with an impressive 374-7 victory, meaning that President Enrique Pena Nieto can now sign the legislation into law over the coming weeks.
On their official website, the Lower House of Congress in Mexico stated;
“The ruling eliminates the prohibition and criminalization of acts related to the medicinal use of marijuana and its scientific research, and those relating to the production and distribution of the plant for these purposes,”The passed bill has arrived at the feet of President Nieto after two years of sweeping reform regarding Mexico's cannabis laws. For example, in 2015, Mexico's Supreme Court ruled that smoking cannabis is now a human right. The new bill has been met with widespread acclaim, with prominant Green Party member Arturo Alvarez stating;
“This is a step in the right direction of exploring new alternatives of regulated, legalized and supervised use, and can open up a new front for authorities to combat addictions and the violence that arises from the illicit activities of drug growing, trafficking and consumption,”.
