MEXICO CITY — The Mexican government granted the first permits to allow growing and the possession of marijuana for personal use last month.
The government’s medical protection agency said the permits will apply only to the four plaintiffs who won a November 2015 Supreme Court ruling.
The permits won’t allow smoking marijuana in the presence of children or anyone who hasn’t given consent.
The permits do not allow the sale or distribution of marijuana. The court’s ruling does not imply a general legalization. But if the court rules the same way on five similar petitions, it would then establish the precedent to change the law and allow general recreational use.
Dozens of people have since filed similar appeals to get such permits.
The court ruled that growing and consuming marijuana is covered under the right of “free development of personality.”
President Enrique Pena Nieto has repeatedly stated that he opposes legalization of marijuana, as do a majority of Mexicans surveyed in recent polls.
B. LE GRAND
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF