Surrounded: Canada & Mexico Move to Legalize Marijuana
Ryan Allway
November 9th, 2015
Policy, Top Story
The United States may have pioneered the idea of legalizing adult-use cannabis on a state level, but the country may be the last to legalize the drug federally in North America.
The Mexican Supreme Court ruled that individuals had the right to possess, consume, and grow marijuana for personal use in a 4-1 decision in early November. While nothing has changed immediately for most Mexicans, the ruling was successful in opening up conversations among politicians throughout the country. The decision was particularly important for Baja California where the drug war has torn apart cities like Tijuana.
In Canada, Justin Trudeau’s election as Prime Minister has set the stage for the legalization of adult-use marijuana across the country. Mr. Trudeau made a campaign promise to prioritize the legalization of the drug in order to reduce crime, raise tax revenue, and fund preventative measures to reduce youth marijuana usage. With the MMPR program already in force, the pathway to adult-use legalization may be a lot more straightforward than Mexico.
Differing Opinions
The irony of the situation is that the U.S. public has been the most supportive of relaxed marijuana laws relative to its neighbors to the north and south. In a recent Gallup poll, 58% of Americans said they supported the legalization of marijuana. By comparison, in Canada, 56% are open to legalization, 30% opt for decriminalization, and just 14% say that it should remain a criminal offense, according to Vote Compass data.
Surprisingly, Mexico is much more conservative than its neighbors to the north, despite having its country torn apart by drug crimes. According to Parametria, a full 77% of Mexicans oppose the legalization of marijuana, with usage rates remaining far lower than in the U.S. The country’s government, however, has been much more lenient than the U.S. or Canada, decriminalizing personal use of many drugs back in 2009.
Further south, Uruguay became the first country in the world to fully legalize adult-use marijuana, although regulators are still implementing the details. Several other Latin American countries have voiced their intentions to do the same in order to better combat criminals that rely on drugs to generate revenue, as well as to raise tax revenue to support prevention education and other services that benefit the public good.
Growing Wave
The marijuana movement appears to be picking up steam throughout North America, with the U.S. pioneering state-level legalization programs and its neighbors considering country-wide legalization. With strong public support in the U.S. and Canada, the countries are likely to eventually see full legalization over the coming years. The November 2016 elections in the U.S. should also provide a lot of clarity with regards to a timeline.
In Mexico, the public remains largely opposed to marijuana legalization, but the government seems to realize the flaws woven into the War on Drugs policies. The country’s government has been the most progressive of the three in taking actions to decriminalize the drug, while the Supreme Court’s decision should open up conversations among regulators. With the U.S. and Canada heading toward legalization, these attitudes could begin to shift ahead.
In the end, these trends are a positive for the industry over the coming years. Medical marijuana patients will have access to the medicine they need; recreational marijuana users will avoid prosecution; and public programs could receive a new funding source.
Image used under Creative Commons.
This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.
About Ryan Allway
Mr. Allway has over a decade of experience in the financial markets as both a private investor and financial journalist. He has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since its inception, covering public and private companies.
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