Regulating Cannabis Use In Mexico – Current Legal Framework

Mexico's current legislation regarding cannabis use is the result of several legal actions. More than five years ago, the first legal actions regarding the prohibition of cannabis use were filed by the authorities, pushing towards a specific legal framework.

These actions involved the use of cannabis for different purposes. The relevant cases addressing the use of cannabis were aimed at obtaining the approval of an allopathic drug with a cannabisrelated substance as an active ingredient, and the approval for import of a cannabis-related substance medicine for personal and recreational use.

Supreme Court of Justice decision

The Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS), which is responsible for applying and enforcing the corresponding regulatory framework in relation to drugs, refused to review the dossier and grant a marketing authorisation for pharmaceutical products containing cannabis and other narcotics as active ingredients.