Who/What: Marijuana Legalization in Mexico

Why: With the growing number of US States legalizing Marijuana, Mexico is questioning its own policy and war on drugs.

Jorge Montaño, Mexico’s Ambassador to the United Nations, has stated that Mexico could legalize recreational marijuana usage in the near future.

Montaño says that the growing number of US states legalizing marijuana could be the driving force for policy change in Mexico.

Mexico has been fighting a violent war on drugs for nearly a decade in an attempt to stop the trafficking of drugs between the US and Mexico, however the legalization of marijuana in many US states now leaves the war on drugs and Mexico’s own policies in question.

The ambassador said that Mexico would look at all the options and consider the US and their shared 3,000 KM of border when debating the issue, which can come as early as next year at the UNGASS, United Nations Special Assembly Session on Drugs.

President Enrique Peña Nieto has signaled he is open to the debate but is not in favor of legalization, but many lawmakers say they cannot be out of step with US policy on the issue because the issue impacts both countries and a war on drugs to stop the flow into areas where they are legal is becoming a losing battle and costing lives in Mexico.

In 2009, Mexico decriminalized possession of up to 5 grams of marijuana, 500 milligrams of cocaine and small amounts of heroin and methamphetamines.