Senator Ricardo Monreal stated in a press conference on Thursday that he would prefer to postpone the decision to pass the bill through the Supreme Court until September.
The Senate is unwilling to fully support the chamber's modifications. They stated that the bill contains numerous "inconsistencies" that will be addressed during the upcoming sessions. One of the topics to be discussed is the establishment of a new Mexican Institute of Cannabis to regulate the drug's use.
In recent weeks, the bill advanced to second revisions in the Senate, paving the way for the final steps needed to make marijuana legal for recreational use across the country. This news has given renewed hope to Mexico's long-running legalisation campaign, which began in 2015 and has been stalled ever since.
Furthermore, this bill is expected to aid in the fight against the narcotics industry, which has profited for decades from illegal marijuana sales. However, this issue has come to light as the government seeks to avoid provoking the cartels in order to avoid another bloody episode in the Mexican drug war.
Interestingly, the Morena political party has committed to reducing the criminal records of those charged with marijuana possession, and has publicly stated that "The law should achieve two goals: reducing crime and repealing the prohibition that has resulted in thousands of people being imprisoned for possessing a few grammes of marijuana. It should be a tool for social justice."
The Supreme Court's decision was due in April, but it will now have to wait until September.
Publish in Hoosh! News, 09/04/2021
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