Mexican states should start legalizing marijuana - tourism minister

Drug policy is one of the major issues in Mexico's July 1 presidential election
Reuters (UK)
Thursday, April 12, 2018

Taking a lead from the United States, Mexico should allow states to begin legalizing marijuana while broader efforts are in limbo, Tourism minister Enrique de la Madrid said, as the country seeks ways to tackle record gang violence. De la Madrid, confronting rising lawlessness in and around the resort cities of Cancun and Los Cabos, said it made no sense for Mexico to maintain prohibition given permissive U.S. policies in states such as California. "I think in Mexico we should move towards regulating it at state level," he said, calling it "illogical" to divert funds from fighting kidnapping, rape and murder to arrest people using marijuana. (See also: Former Mexican President Fox calls for opium poppy legalization)