HomeNews
News

Don’t bother pot smokers, Oaxaca city officials tell local police

Peter Davies
By Peter Davies
0
A woman smokes at a 2017 march in favor of cannabis legalization.
A woman smokes at a 2017 march in favor of cannabis legalization. Cuartoscuro

The use of marijuana for recreational purposes has not yet been legalized in Mexico, but pot smokers can find an oasis in Oaxaca city.

The city government has advised police not to bother people smoking weed in public places in the state capital.

In an official letter directed to members of the Plantón 4:20 – pro-marijuana protesters who have occupied the El Llano park in recent months – and cannabis consumers in general, the city government reiterated its commitment to respecting human rights and noted that there is no municipal law that expressly prohibits the “personal responsible consumption of cannabis in public spaces.”

The government acknowledged that the Supreme Court has ruled that laws prohibiting the use of marijuana are unconstitutional, but also recognized that the court argued there is a need to protect the rights of people who don’t want to be or shouldn’t be exposed to secondhand smoke, such as children and adolescents.

“In that sense, we call on consumers to avoid consuming cannabis in places where there are girls and boys or there is express disagreement from other people,” the April 13 letter said.

The letter from municipal authorities called on police to avoid bothering marijuana smokers, as long as the smokers are not bothering other members of the public.

“In addition, this municipal authority urges municipal police officers … to abstain from causing … trouble to consumers. In case of disagreement from a person in the same space, proceed only to ask consumers to move to another place,” it said.

The city government’s letter came in response to requests from Plantón 4:20 members and others that they be allowed to smoke marijuana in public without being criminalized.

Its publication coincided with the allocation of federal permits allowing 26 indigenous communities in Oaxaca to cultivate marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has been legal in Mexico since 2017. The Supreme Court has directed Congress to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes, but it has repeatedly missed deadlines to do so.

With reports from El Universal 

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
A large gas flare visible through trees at Olmeca Refinery in Dos Bocas, Tabasco.

Mexico’s week in review: USMCA talks advance as Pemex admits to Gulf oil spill cover-up

MND Staff - 0
This week in Mexico, USMCA talks advanced, Pemex admitted to a major oil spill and Sheinbaum made Time's most influential list — here are this week's top stories.
A view over the shoulder of the golden Angel of Independence statue in Mexico City, looking down Paseo de la Reforma

Introducing MND’s most ambitious initiative yet, MND Insights: A message from our CEO

Travis Bembenek - 7
MND is launching new series of indexes on safety, health care, the peso, the economy and Sheinbaum — giving readers clearer data to understand and debate Mexico’s biggest questions.
CAZZU

From celebrity custody battle to Congress: Cazzu’s Law seeks to prevent absent parents from blocking children’s travel

MND Staff - 1
Requiring both parents to approve their child's travel is meant to prevent parental kidnapping. But it is often used by absent fathers to control both their child and ex.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity

VIDEO OF THE WEEK