Thousands of people filled the streets of Mexico City this past weekend, rallying for the full legalization of marijuana and the right to cultivate cannabis for personal use. The large-scale protest highlights a growing public demand for drug policy reform in Mexico, where cannabis laws remain tangled in legal uncertainty despite significant judicial rulings.
In 2015, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that banning individuals from growing and using marijuana for personal purposes violated constitutional rights, effectively setting a legal precedent in favor of decriminalization. This position was further strengthened in 2021 when the Court declared that penalizing the possession of marijuana for personal use was unconstitutional, effectively decriminalizing its recreational use. However, these rulings applied only to the plaintiffs in each case, and Mexico’s Congress has yet to pass any sweeping federal legislation to bring clarity or consistency to cannabis regulation nationwide.
Despite the Supreme Court's progressive stance, lawmakers in Mexico have struggled to reach a consensus. Proposed legalization bills have repeatedly stalled in the Senate due to political disagreements and shifting priorities. This deadlock has created a confusing situation for citizens: while courts have affirmed the right to use cannabis, there is no unified legal structure governing how it can be grown, distributed, or sold. The lack of regulation has also opened the door to selective enforcement and continued legal harassment, according to advocates.
The recent demonstration in Mexico City reflects widespread public dissatisfaction with this status quo. Protesters are urging lawmakers to finally pass comprehensive cannabis legislation that would legalize its cultivation, distribution, and use. Many argue that such a move would not only protect individual freedoms but also deal a blow to the country’s powerful drug cartels by reducing their market share. Additionally, legalization could bring substantial tax revenue and create jobs, while enabling more effective public health oversight and product quality standards.
Mexico's situation is not unique in the region. Several Latin American countries are reevaluating their stance on cannabis and broader drug policy. Uruguay was the first country in the world to fully legalize marijuana in 2013, and Canada followed in 2018. Other countries, including Colombia and Argentina, are making progress on decriminalization and expanding access to medical marijuana. These shifts reflect a growing trend toward treating drug issues as public health matters rather than criminal offenses.
As Mexico debates its next steps, the voices of thousands in the streets of its capital send a clear message: the public is ready for meaningful reform. The resolution of this issue could shape not just national policy but influence broader regional changes in how cannabis is regulated and understood.
