Mexico’s Supreme Court Extends Cannabis Legalization Deadline, Again
In 2018 Mexico’s Supreme Court determined that cannabis prohibition was unconstitutional. Since that time Mexico’s cannabis policy has remained in limbo while Mexico’s lawmakers work to pass legislation to implement cannabis legalization.
Initially, Mexico’s Supreme Court issued a one-year deadline for lawmakers to pass the legislation, and lawmakers failed to meet the initial deadline. The Court then issued an extension to the end of April 2020 for lawmakers to meet.
Due to various factors, not the least of which is the coronavirus pandemic, lawmakers are not able to meet the deadline extension. Thankfully, Mexico’s Supreme Court issued another extension, as reported by Marijuana Moment:
The new deadline for lawmakers to end prohibition is December 15—the end of the next legislative session. Politco.mx first reported the development.
Sen. Mónica Fernández, president of the Senate’s Board of Directors, thanked the court for approving the extension.
Although lawmakers conceded they would not be able to meet this month’s deadline, substantial progress has been made nonetheless on the cannabis legislation.
When the initial court ruling was issued, Mexico appeared to be on the fast-track to becoming the third country to implement an adult-use cannabis legalization policy. Uruguay and Canada are the only two countries to have implemented an adult-use cannabis legalization measure.
Many reports have come out of Mexico since late 2018 stating that ‘progress has been made’ on legislation, just for those reports to ultimately prove fruitless. Until legislation is a done deal, Mexico’s cannabis policy will remain in limbo and all reports of increased momentum towards success will need to be met with tempered expectations.
