Latin America
The Future of Medical Marijuana in Latin America
It’s a beautiful place for marijuana. Costa Rica has an established history as a haven for liberal ideas, happy people, and gorgeous scenery. The country is one of the most environmentally friendly places in the world with 25% of the nation’s acreage protected from industrial development of any kind. It also disbanded its armed forced […] Thanks to marijuana.com
Mexico’s Supreme Court Green Lights Pathway Towards Legalization
Sure to upset Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel and “El Chapo” Guzmán, yesterday was a great day for supporters of medical marijuana and those who support the outright legalization of pot south of the border.
On Wednesday, Mexico’s Supreme Court decided that prohibiting the cultivation and consumption of marijuana for personal use was unconstitutional. Potentially setting in motion the legalization of marijuana in Mexico. In a legal ruling handed down on Wednesday, Justice Arturo Zaldívar authored an 88-page decision based on the principles of human rights – reasoning that Mexico acknowledges an individual’s freedom to participate in activities…provided they don’t harm others.
That’s right, Mexico’s highest court has now decided that prohibiting individuals from smoking weed or growing it for their own personal use violates an individual’s human rights, according to the New York Times.
“The vote by the court’s criminal chamber declared that individuals should have the right to grow and distribute marijuana for their personal use. While the ruling does not strike down current drug laws, it lays the groundwork for a wave of legal actions that could ultimately rewrite them.”
Mexico’s Supreme Court Green Lights Pathway Towards Legalization
Leaving in place the existing marijuana laws for now, the court’s ruling only applies to the cannabis club that filed a lawsuit on behalf of an eight-year-old girl known as “Grace,” who became Mexico’s first medical marijuana patient in 2015.
With the court’s new ruling in hand, many in Latin America are hoping this decision will spark an important debate on South America’s overly conservative drug laws – kicking open the door for similar challenges to Mexico’s marijuana laws.
Wednesday’s ruling represents the culmination of a tireless effort from the good people at Mexico’s United Against Crime.
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World Renown Economists become newest Marijuana Advocates
A generation of Americans have grown tired of watching taxpayer dollars being diverted toward fighting a plant, when Americans are sick, in debt, and can use a new approach to governing. A generation of Latin Americans have grown tired of witnessing violence, being controlled by a growing Cartel, and policies of the United States that have only increased the problems. No dollar value can be put on the lives of those lost or impacted during the failed 40 year war on drugs.
There are many areas where a dollar value on outdated marijuana laws can be assessed. Three hundred of the world’s leading economists have signed a petition that urges President Barack Obama and Congress to consider marijuana legalization. The petition cites Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron’s recent letter which describes the possibility of tens of billions being saved and generated if marijuana were properly regulated. The article and the economists are also concerned with how many lives have been ruined because of incarceration linked to marijuana charges.
It is interesting to see that the conversation has changed and commenting on marijuana reform is no longer a political death sentence. Even Nancy Pelosi was willing to address the issue last week as she expressed concern over medical marijuana raids. Even if our elected officials are trying to run from it, marijuana is becoming a tremendous political issue. Similar to prohibition, if politicians keep running from addressing the issue head on, it will only avalanche into an uncontrollable situation. Now the old page of talking points will not properly satisfy a new generation where statements can be watched over and over again on youtube. There are no issues to run from and there are no offhanded comments any longer.
This country is full of pundits who fight about which economic recovery plan will work the best. Of course, in an election year that conversation has degenerated into inaudible arguments taking up the same talking points. All we hear is a few arguments from Democrats on corporate tax rates and tax rates for the wealthy while Republicans respond by saying raising any of these will slow job growth. These decades old arguments can truly use a new perspective, and marijuana legalization will not cost anything, in fact it will save billions while simultaneously generating billions. Are we to believe the politicians talking into the camera, or the world renown economists who are experts on how to fix America’s financial problems?
Outside of U.S. Comfort Zone President Obama Forced to Discuss Failed War on Drugs
Over the weekend President Obama attended the 6th Summit of the Americas in Columbia. Most of the media focus will be on the secret service prostitute scandal and Cuba’s exclusion from the event. However, medical marijuana patients were treated to at least a glimmer of hope from the weekend summit.
President Obama has sidestepped discussions on marijuana several times over the past several months. In two separate online votes, the White House has encouraged participants to submit topics they wanted the president to discuss. Marijuana reform dominated the votes, but was sidestepped by the White House. This comes at a time where patients are genuinely concerned about the administration’s handling of medical marijuana and feel that President Obama is not keeping his promise to uphold state law.
Unfortunately for the president, he was unable to maneuver out of a drug policy discussion at the Summit of the Americas. Momentum for marijuana legalization seems to be growing significantly. Many Latin American countries have voiced their opposition to the American War on Drugs recently. Vice President Joe Biden also was pressured on marijuana policy last month in his visit to Central America. As the violence has escalated out of control in the region, especially in Mexico, many former and current world leaders including former Mexico president Vicente Fox, have called for a change of course.
At the summit, President Obama maintained his current position that legalization is not the answer to combat drug cartel violence. Instead he feels we need smarter laws, better law enforcement structure and stronger economies. These general statements may not sit well with U.S. patients and residents of Latin America although President Obama did indicate that he was willing to hold a debate on the issue. He did acknowledge that the war on drugs has not been successful over the past 40 years.
While the United States Federal government seems reluctant to enact any changes to its approach on marijuana policy, other countries seem more than willing to do so. The United States now trails many other countries in education, crime rates, and stem cell research. Is America willing to take a backseat on yet another global issue?