Mexican health authorities issued Friday the first
permit allowing four individuals to grow and smoke their own marijuana,
but none actually plans to consume the drug.
While the permit opens a crack in Mexico's prohibitionist policies, the government health watchdog Cofepris stressed that the authorization is limited to those four people only.
The foursome, who secured the authorization in a historic Supreme Court ruling last month, hope that their victory will force Mexico to legalize marijuana.
The group, part of the Mexican Society for Responsible and Tolerant Personal Use (SMART), says decriminalizing pot will help reduce the country's relentless drug cartel violence.
"We didn't do this to get the right (to consume) for ourselves but to change a public policy that has been extremely costly for the country," said Armando Santacruz, an accountant and one of the four who won the case.
Their legal victory has prompted others to seek similar permits while forcing President Enrique Pena Nieto and Congress to debate whether to change the country's marijuana laws.
"The goal is to change the policy, not to promote consumption," Juan Francisco Torres Landa, an attorney and member of the foursome, told
"We will set an example and we will not consume (marijuana) because we have enough information to take a responsible decision. But it will be based on our own conviction, not on threats from the state."
Note
Uruguay has created a regulated market for pot.
In Chile, Congress is debating a law to legalize its recreational while President Michelle Bachelet authorized the sale of cannabis-based medication.
Colombia is also in the process of legalizing and regulating medical marijuana.
In the United States - the biggest consumer of drugs from Mexico - 23 states have legalized medical marijuana use, while four states plus the capital city have legalized its recreational use.
While the permit opens a crack in Mexico's prohibitionist policies, the government health watchdog Cofepris stressed that the authorization is limited to those four people only.
The foursome, who secured the authorization in a historic Supreme Court ruling last month, hope that their victory will force Mexico to legalize marijuana.
The group, part of the Mexican Society for Responsible and Tolerant Personal Use (SMART), says decriminalizing pot will help reduce the country's relentless drug cartel violence.
"We didn't do this to get the right (to consume) for ourselves but to change a public policy that has been extremely costly for the country," said Armando Santacruz, an accountant and one of the four who won the case.
Their legal victory has prompted others to seek similar permits while forcing President Enrique Pena Nieto and Congress to debate whether to change the country's marijuana laws.
"The goal is to change the policy, not to promote consumption," Juan Francisco Torres Landa, an attorney and member of the foursome, told
"We will set an example and we will not consume (marijuana) because we have enough information to take a responsible decision. But it will be based on our own conviction, not on threats from the state."
Note
Uruguay has created a regulated market for pot.
In Chile, Congress is debating a law to legalize its recreational while President Michelle Bachelet authorized the sale of cannabis-based medication.
Colombia is also in the process of legalizing and regulating medical marijuana.
In the United States - the biggest consumer of drugs from Mexico - 23 states have legalized medical marijuana use, while four states plus the capital city have legalized its recreational use.
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