Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Mexican Senate Appears Set to Pass Bill to Legalize Marijuana

Reuters

   MEXICO CITY - Mexico's Senate will votefor a bill to fully legalize
   marijuana in the next few days, akey lawmaker told Reuters, marking a
   major step toward changingthe country's approach to the drug by
   removing it as a source ofincome for violent drug gangs.

   President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a leftist critic of Mexico's
   long-standing drug war, has since last year signaled hisopenness to the
   decriminalization of marijuana as part of abroader shift on security
   policy.

   Sen. Ricardo Monreal, the leader of Lopez Obrador's MORENAparty in the
   upper chamber of Congress, said in an interviewlate Monday that a vote
   on the proposal wouldtake place later
   this week or next week.

   "The end of the prohibitionist policy is good for thecountry," he said,
   adding that the bill would regulate personaluse and sale of marijuana
   as well as research into the plant. Italso contemplates creation of
   cooperatives that would growmarijuana, plus a new regulatory agency.

   If approved by the Senate, the proposal would proceedto the lower house
   for a vote.MORENA and its allies hold majorities in both chambers.

   Late last year, the Supreme Court said lawmakers haduntilOct. 24 to
   legalize marijuana, after the court ruled inseveral cases that
   prohibition of the recreational use ofthe drug violatedthe
   constitution.

   Under Mexican law, if the Supreme Court issues the samedecision five
   times, the rulings set a precedent and the courtcan then order the
   establishment of a regulatory framework as
   well as further legal action.

   While the leader of MORENA in the lower house, MarioDelgado, has
   proposed that the government tightly administer afuture marijuana
   market, Monreal was noncommittal.

   "There are some [proposals]that would establish a type ofstate-run
   monopoly ... but we want to leave it more open," hesaid.

   The 59-year-old lawyer also left open the possibility thatthe
   legislation could be put on hold if a public referendum onlegalizing
   marijuana sought by Lopez Obrador were to beauthorized first.

   "We will know in the next few days if we're able to build a
   [legislative]consensus or if we wait for the referendum," saidMonreal.

   The legislative leader emphasized that "many companies" haveapproached
   him and expressed their interest in the proposal,following similar
   initiatives in several U.S. states, includingCalifornia, as well as
   Canada.

.