Mexico Extends Recreational Cannabis Legalization Deadline

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]M[/dropcap]exican officials missed a deadline to approve a recreational cannabis bill set for Oct. 31. Just before the deadline, on Oct 28, the Mexican Supreme Court extended a deadline for six months to approve a bill to legalize cannabis in the country.

The ruling MORENA party in the Senate explained that unprecedented lobbying forced lawmakers to extend the deadline. The new deadline is set for April 30, 2020 for the Mexican Senate to approve recreational cannabis legislation. The legalization bill was sent to the Senate last week following several committee approvals.

?la @SCJN ha otorgado una prórroga hasta el 30 de abril 2020 para aprobar una iniciativa en las DOS cámaras – recordemos que siempre lo podrían pasar antes, con los cambios que estamos exigiendo! ¡Ojalá podamos celebrar en 4.20.20! https://t.co/duoxFCNqQg

— Zara Snapp (@zarasnapp) November 1, 2019

Senate Majority Leader Ricardo Monreal explained recently that multinational corporate interests are being taken into consideration during the approval process. “The truth is there are many interests,” Monreal stated, adding that time was running out before the deadline arrived last week.

Small and micro-plot cannabis farmers will be prioritized under the current draft of the bill. The bill outlines a five-year period after cannabis is legalized, providing that at least 20 percent of cultivation permits must go to campesinos or cooperatives in jurisdictions where law enforcement has destroyed illegal cannabis operations. The Mexican Cannabis Institute will be formed as a government agency to grant licenses by January 1, 2021.

Marijuana Moment reports that the amended versions of the legislation include several possible improvements, such as a committee’s version of the bill that would allow for cultivation of up to six plants and legalize possession of up to 30 grams.

Back on Oct. 31, 2018, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to ban recreational cannabis consumption and possession. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) vowed to attempt to combat cartel violence with cannabis legalization as a new solution.

Debate over the bill is expected to resume this week in the Senate.