{"id":5272,"date":"2015-12-29T21:33:14","date_gmt":"2015-12-29T21:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marijuana.com\/?p=45952"},"modified":"2015-12-29T21:33:14","modified_gmt":"2015-12-29T21:33:14","slug":"mexicos-congress-announces-marijuana-legalization-debates-in-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/mexicos-congress-announces-marijuana-legalization-debates-in-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexico\u2019s Congress Announces Marijuana Legalization Debates in 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/mexicos-congress-announces-marijuana-legalization-debates-in-2016\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><p>A leading Mexican lawmaker just\u00a0announced that the country&#8217;s Congress will hold a series of debates on legalizing marijuana in the new year.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 1.5\">&#8220;This will be an unprecedented year for Congress in terms of exchange of information, assessments and debate in which legislators and specialists participate,&#8221; Jesus Zambrano Grijalva, president of the Congress&#8217;s Permanent Committee, said in a <\/span><a style=\"line-height: 1.5\" href=\"http:\/\/www5.diputados.gob.mx\/index.php\/esl\/Comunicacion\/Boletines\/2015\/Diciembre\/27\/0755-Listo-el-Poder-Legislativo-para-iniciar-el-debate-sobre-el-uso-de-la-marihuana-Jesus-Zambrano\">press release<\/a>\u00a0on Sunday<span style=\"line-height: 1.5\">. &#8220;We can discuss, ask questions, doubts, listen to opinions, suggestions on what should be a comprehensive policy for drugs in our country. This is an issue that we have to discuss, so it must be a true exercise of enrichment.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>(All quotations automatically translated by Google from the original Spanish.)<\/p>\n<p>The announcement of the debate sessions, which are set to begin on January\u00a025, comes\u00a0less than two months after <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2015\/11\/05\/world\/americas\/mexico-supreme-court-marijuana-ruling.html\">Mexico&#8217;s Supreme Court ruled<\/a> that individuals have a right to grow and distribute marijuana for personal use. While that case only currently applies to the four individuals who brought it, the right to cultivate and consume\u00a0cannabis\u00a0would become binding nationwide if the court ruled similarly a handful of additional times.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 1.5\">&#8220;Only a comprehensive alternative can help address this social problem, because we understand that the prohibitionist politics and violence that would tackle when advanced from a head-on fight against organized crime linked to drug use and trafficking have not yielded the expected results,&#8221; Zambrano Grijalva said in the press release.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The newly announced debate sessions will cover issues such as\u00a0human rights,\u00a0medical cannabis, prison overcrowding, consumer health, public safety\u00a0and ways to regulate marijuana production.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I am convinced that a large part of the violence and prison overcrowding we have in the country will be resolved when\u00a0we can conclude a process to use marijuana for medical and recreational purposes (for those who wish to do so); all accompanied by controls, preventive measures and clinical care,&#8221; said Zambrano Grijalva.<\/p>\n<p>Mexican President Enrique Pe\u00f1a Nieto has <a href=\"http:\/\/bigstory.ap.org\/article\/6752f09814ba45fcbbff0a3ede81960c\/mexico-open-debate-use-marijuana\">said he opposes legalizing marijuana<\/a> but welcomes a national dialogue on the issue. Separate from the Congressional debates just scheduled,\u00a0Pe\u00f1a Nieto&#8217;s administration <a href=\"http:\/\/news.yahoo.com\/mexico-debate-marijuana-legalization-january-193706351.html\">announced earlier this month<\/a> that it would hold a series of five regional forums on cannabis policy.<\/p>\n<p>But Zambrano Grijalva said legislators aren&#8217;t keen to wait around and let the executive branch dictate the country&#8217;s marijuana policies. &#8220;We must legislate with the greatest possible consensus considering the proposals of all sectors involved,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>The lawmaker made a point to distinguish changing marijuana prohibition policies from actively encouraging people to consume cannabis. The debates don&#8217;t signal\u00a0&#8220;a call to everybody to smoke marijuana just because he was legally permitted,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>See the full list of schedule debate sessions and topics below, via <a href=\"http:\/\/noticieros.televisa.com\/mexico\/1512\/poder-legislativo-debatira-marihuana-25-enero-13-febrero\/\">Televisa<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>DEBATE ON PROCESS CONTROL OF MARIJUANA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Opening of the public hearings and Second Meeting of the Technical Council for Regulatory Alternatives Marijuana<\/p>\n<p><strong>Monday, January 25, 9:30 a.m. -11am<\/strong><br \/>\nChamber of Deputies \/ Public Hearings:<br \/>\nConsumption regulation, self-production and human rights.<br \/>\nAnalysis of free personality development and other fundamental rights.<br \/>\nFreedom, autonomy and self-reliance in auto production and consumption.<br \/>\nRight to protection of health outcomes and costs of prohibition on health and viability of cannabis treatments.<br \/>\nComparative Perspective on the recognition of the right to self-produce and consume marijuana (judgments in Uruguay, Spain, Colombia, etc.)<br \/>\nRight to information and use of cannabis: what consumers have a right to know.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Monday, January 25, 11 a.m.-4: 00pm<\/strong><br \/>\nChamber of Deputies \/ Regulation in the international context:<br \/>\nObligations of the Mexican state against the international regime.<br \/>\nAdjustments to regulatory frameworks.<br \/>\nScope of the international regime of control.<br \/>\nAnalysis and adoption of international best practices.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tuesday, January 26, 9:00 a.m. &#8211; 1.00pm<\/strong><br \/>\nChamber of Deputies \/ Regulation in relation to the criminal policy and the penitentiary system:<br \/>\nAchievements and costs of the current policy.<br \/>\nRegulation amounts, quality, origin and destination at any stage of the production chain.<br \/>\nProcedural alternatives in terms of:<br \/>\nAddictions<br \/>\nConsumers<br \/>\nNarcomenudeo<br \/>\nRelease, granted early release and commutation of sentences.<br \/>\nSocial and labor reinsertion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wednesday, January 27, 9:00 a.m. -1.00 pm<\/strong><br \/>\nChamber of Deputies \/ Regulation regarding public safety:<br \/>\nAnalysis, impact and costs of prohibitionist policies on public safety.<br \/>\nAnalysis, impact and costs of regulation on public safety.<br \/>\nBlack and customs control market.<br \/>\nControl policies.<br \/>\nPossible impacts on the dynamics of organized crime and drug trafficking.<br \/>\nPolicies to prevent risky behaviors. (Violence, driving under the influence, etc.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Thursday, January 28, 9:00 a.m. &#8211; 1.00pm<\/strong><br \/>\nChamber of Deputies \/ Regulation in relation to its medicinal or therapeutic use:<br \/>\nRegulating the production, quality and safeguards phytosanitary issues.<br \/>\nScientific evidence of effectiveness and safety in the treatment of diseases.<br \/>\nIts use as an alternative treatment or drug substitution.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tuesday, February 2, 3:30 pm &#8211; 7.30pm<\/strong><br \/>\nSenate \/ Effects of marijuana on consumer health and public health:<br \/>\n1. Consumer Health:<br \/>\nSubstance, consumer and context: the complexity of the interaction of variables on the impact of drugs on the body.<br \/>\nImmediate effects on the nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, immune and psychological system.<br \/>\nLong-term effects and risks of prolonged use of marijuana.<br \/>\nConsumption patterns and health impacts.<br \/>\nRisk of increased consumption in vulnerable populations.<br \/>\nProclivity impact and use of other substances: Marijuana as &#8220;gateway drug&#8221; and &#8220;drug-out&#8221;.<br \/>\n2. Public Health<br \/>\nResults, impact and costs of prohibitionist policies on public health.<br \/>\nWhat challenges for regular state involves the use of marijuana?<br \/>\nPrograms and public health policies<br \/>\nBudgetary impacts and costs.<br \/>\nTechnical, personnel and infrastructure.<br \/>\nReclassification of marijuana in terms of its psychotropic effects.<br \/>\nCreating databases and defining objectives, goals, interventions and impacts allow continued evaluation to measure the effectiveness of public policies.<br \/>\nUnforeseen side effects.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wednesday, February 3, 9:00 a.m. &#8211; 3.00pm<\/strong><br \/>\nSenate \/ regulation of consumption in relation to the treatment of addictions:<br \/>\nAnalysis of the current policy of containment or reduction addictions.<br \/>\nPotential dependence or addiction to marijuana.<br \/>\nPossible risks increased consumption.<br \/>\nAddiction potential of different substances and varieties.<br \/>\nAwareness campaigns for vulnerable groups.<br \/>\nBudget for the prevention of addiction treatment.<br \/>\nPossible effects on disease burden.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Thursday, February 4, 3:30 pm &#8211; 7:30 pm<\/strong><br \/>\nSenate \/ Regulation concerning liability for damages against third parties:<br \/>\nIdentification and analysis of actual and potential damage to third parties.<br \/>\nScheme for civil, criminal, labor and administrative responsibility for a new regulation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tuesday, February 9, 3:30 pm &#8211; 7:30 pm<\/strong><br \/>\nChamber of Deputies \/ Regulation in relation to its sanitary control:<br \/>\nResults, analysis and costs of prohibitionist policies of disease control.<br \/>\nSafeguards phytosanitary issues and production quality<br \/>\nClassification of cannabis potency, defining measures establishing cannabis maximum concentration of THC in relation to the fundamental right to information.<br \/>\nEstablish criteria for the operation and functioning of the clubs.<br \/>\nEstablishment of powers, regulators and budget impact of a new regulation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wednesday, February 10, 9:00 a.m. &#8211; 1.00pm<\/strong><br \/>\nChamber of Deputies \/ proper regulation for production, distribution and sale of marijuana:<br \/>\nProduction regulation for recreational purposes.<br \/>\nPossible models formal market regulation of marijuana.<br \/>\nTrade regulation (interior and exterior).<br \/>\nPossible lessons learned and today regulated substance (snuff and alcohol).<br \/>\nRegulation of advertising.<\/p>\n<p><strong>February 16, 3:30 pm &#8211; 7:30 pm<\/strong><br \/>\nSenate \/ Design of public policy for the regulation of marijuana:<br \/>\nDefinition of the public problem to be addressed.<br \/>\nDefining objectives and goals of a new public policy.<br \/>\nAnalysis of costs and risks against the potential benefits.<br \/>\nDefinition of interventions and mechanisms to achieve the goals and objectives.<br \/>\nDevelopment of methods and tools of measurement, evaluation and monitoring.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wednesday, February 17, 9am &#8211; 1.00pm<\/strong><br \/>\nSenate \/ Closing of the Public Hearings<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A leading Mexican lawmaker just\u00a0announced that the country&#8217;s Congress will hold a series of debates on legalizing marijuana in the new year. &#8220;This will be an unprecedented year for Congress in terms of exchange of information, assessments and debate in which legislators and specialists participate,&#8221; Jesus Zambrano Grijalva, president of the Congress&#8217;s Permanent Committee, said [&#8230;] <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2433,2417,9,1,3],"tags":[2434,2419],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5272"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5272"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5272\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}