Recreational cocaine use granted to two users by Mexican judge
Could recreational cocaine use be decriminalised in Mexico?
One of the nation’s with the most had core relationship with cocaine is taking a different approach to the war on drugs.
In a landmark ruling, a Mexican judge has granted two people the right to use cocaine recreationally, giving them freedom to “possess, transport and use cocaine,” according to Mexico United Against Crime (MUCD), however drawing the line at selling- excuse the pun.
For a country seeking to end the war on drugs, MUCD called the ruling a “historic step.”
MUCD said the Mexico City court ordered Cofepris, the country’s health authority, to authorize the claimants’ recreational use of cocaine. However, Cofepris told the AFP news agency it had taken steps to block the order.
Blurred lines
Not completely in the clear, the ruling will only come into effect if a panel of judges from a higher court side with the original decision. If this happens, the ruling will only apply to the two people who brought their cases forward.
MUCD made a statement on Tuesday, saying the cases represent “another step in the fight to construct alternative drug policies that allow [Mexico] to redirect its security efforts and better address public health.”
It’s no secret that Mexico is plagued by drug-related homicide and crime, with the number of casualties having risen to 33,341, a 15% increase from the previous year.
Simply put, the war on drugs as we know doesn’t work and has never worked. Maybe it’s time to follow Portugal’s drug policy?
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has promised “radical” changes in Mexico’s approach to tackling drugs, so it will be interesting to see how this will play out.
Who know, maybe recreational cocaine use will be completely decriminalised in Mexico sooner than we think.
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