Mexican Lawmakers Ask Court to Extend Cannabis Legalization Deadline

Mexican lawmakers are again asking the nation’s Supreme Court to extend the cannabis legalization deadline to February, according to a Milenio report outlined by Marijuana Moment. Chamber of Deputies President Dulce María Sauri said the body needs more time “to improve the framework” for the legalization bill, which was approved last month by the nation’s Senate.

In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that the ban on personal cannabis use and cultivation was unconstitutional, directing lawmakers to formally end criminalization by October 2019; however, lawmakers have repeatedly asked for – and been granted – an exception to that deadline, which is currently December 15.

“I am sure that the Court, which follows these deliberations very closely, will see that the legislative work is well advanced. I am sure that the Supreme Court of Justice will agree to do what is necessary to provide a good regulatory framework in this matter.” – Sauri to reporters via Milenio and Marijuana Moment

The bill approved by the Senate allows personal possession up to 28 grams, home cultivation up to four plants, and taxed-and-regulated sales provided the product meets THC caps. The bill also includes expungement for crimes legal under the new regime and for the first five years after licensing begins, at least 40 percent of licenses must be awarded to applicants from indigenous, low-income, or historically marginalized communities.

If approved, Mexico would be the third nation to legalize cannabis, following Uruguay and Canada. The legal market would be the world’s largest by population.

The measure was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate on an 82 to 18 vote with seven abstentions.