Last week, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled that it’s unconstitutional to stop plaintiffs from growing, possessing or consuming marijuana.
Four out of the five Supreme Court justices voted in favor of the plaintiffs, who were four cannabis club activists that brought the issue forward. While the ruling only applies to the plaintiffs, many outside the court cheered on, saying it could set a precedent for future drug policies in Mexico.
Gary J. Hale, Drug Policy and Mexico Fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. He was chief of intelligence in the Houston Field Division at the Drug Enforcement Administration from 2000 until he retired in 2010.
“It’s a bold move for Mexico, taken by the Mexican Supreme Court,” Hale says. “They are essentially saying that individual liberties trump any prohibition against marijuana.”
In this segment, you’ll learn:
– What the ruling could change for medicinal and recreational marijuana use in Mexico
– Whether the “drug war” will or will not be affected
– How international agreements on drug control need to adjust in light of the ruling
Listen to the full interview in the player above.
