The Mexican Supreme Court just declared marijuana a fundamental human right. In so doing, the court paved the way for nationwide cannabis legalization.
The court voted 4 to 1 against prohibition of marijuana. The court also determined that person cultivation of marijuana is equally a human right.
Specifically, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled that marijuana prohibition “violates the right to free development of one’s personality.”
The Drug Policy Alliance stated on Wednesday, in a press release, that “this vote by Mexico’s Supreme Court is extraordinary for two reasons: it is being argued on human rights grounds and it is taking place in one of the countries that has suffered the most from the war on drugs.”
Hannah Hetzer, the Senior Policy Manager of the Americas for the Alliance, explained that “Uruguay became the first country to legalize marijuana, Canada is expected soon to follow suit, medical marijuana initiatives are spreading throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, and marijuana is legal in a number of U.S. states. Now with this landmark decision out of Mexico, it is clear that the Americas are leading the world in marijuana reform.”
Earlier this year, Mexico legalized medical marijuana for a patient, after her parents’ rights to treat her with cannabis, for herLennox-Gastaut Syndrome was granted with cannabidiol medication.
Mexico has been plagued with gang and cartel violence due to the illegality of marijuana and other drugs, which have been forced to the black market. Many suggest that legalizing marijuana will help reduce this crime by cutting off the revenue of the cartels. Do they have a point?