Mexico is soon going to follow its neighboring country Canada’s suit by making marijuana or cannabis fully legal for recreational use. But what’s the current status of CBD in Mexico? Laws at the current stage are a bit more complicated than a simple yes and no. Though recreational marijuana has been decriminalized in Mexico, its status is still illegal. This means Mexico is yet to fully decriminalize marijuana. However, the country has paved the way for several changes in rules to make it more accessible to the Latin American country’s citizens.
As of now, the sale of CBD products with less than 1 percent THC content is legal in Mexico. The law was changed in 2017 when the government allowed the nationwide consumption and distribution of CBD. These CBD products are sold as supplements. This article explains everything you must know about CBD use in Mexico, including regulations and production methods. If things go as smoothly as they are currently, Mexico will soon become the third and the biggest country to fully legalize cannabis.
Let’s dive in!
CBD rules in Mexico
This South American nation is all set to become the biggest legal cannabis market once reforms being undertaken by the Mexican government will be implemented. That said, the current status of marijuana in Mexico is complicated; it’s legal to use some CBD products in Mexico but recreational marijuana use is illegal. As per the government rules, one can use CBD products, including CBD oils, tinctures, and sprays, with less than 1 percent THC content. In a huge relief to its people, the country has already passed a ballot that decriminalized cannabis. Besides, Mexico’s drug health regulatory body, COFEPRIS, has approved as many as 38 CBD-based products for public use. One can buy them via online and offline modes.
Approval for marijuana use in medicinal research
This month only, the Mexican health ministry published rules to regulate marijuana use for medicinal research. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador signed off the rule, which authorizes pharma companies to conduct research on medical marijuana. These regulations also allow recreational use of marijuana and will make Mexico the world’s biggest national market for cannabis. The new law states rules for everything from the sowing of cannabis to cultivation and harvesting it legally. The allowing of medical marijuana for medical research is a step forward in the direction of fully legalizing it in the country. In yet another major milestone, it’s expected that the country will fully legalize marijuana for recreational use this year alone. If the bill is approved, Mexico will be the third country to fully legalize marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes.
What’s CBD & is it legal in Mexico?
Cannabidiol or, as it’s famously known, CBD is called a cannabis plant-based ‘magic’ compound that not only enhances your power to fight a plethora of illnesses but also gives you good vibes. CBD is a natural and non-psychoactive compound extracted from seeds and stalks of hemp or plants, a member of the cannabis family. CBD possesses properties that allow it to interact with the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) present in our body, which basically controls everything from hunger to sleep to our mental state. When CBD interacts with ECS, it works as a booster dose to give a soothing effect.
Now let’s come to the second part, which is the legality of CBD. And the answer is — Yes. You can buy CBD anywhere in Mexico if it contains less than 1 percent THC, which is another marijuana family cannabinoid that causes “high” or intoxication. COFEPRIS has approved a list of 38 products, including 21 supplements, seven cosmetics, and six food and two raw materials — from different companies, which are being imported as well as exported out of Mexico by companies such as HempMeds Mexico, CBD Life, Endo Natural Labs, among others. Besides, people also order products directly from the US via online modes, as laws are pretty unclear on its import.
How to buy CBD products in Mexico?
There are registered companies in Mexico that export and import approved CBD products in Mexico. As mentioned above, there are only 38 products approved so far. However, the regulatory body COFEPRIS has been receiving numerous applications every day to include more CBD-based products in the list so companies could export more to meet the growing demand. The other method is by ordering CBD products from the United States and Canada. As reports suggest, both these countries allow export to Mexico and there have been almost negligible instances of any trouble in receiving delivery.
Mexico’s long-term plan
Mexico wants to follow Canada’s suit, which has benefited immensely after legalising cannabis by creating a viable global marketplace for cannabis. The Latin American country wants to capture the thriving global cannabis industry. The biggest factor that will play in Mexico’s favour is its population, which is about 125 million. As per the bill on cannabis, anyone who’s above the age of 18 can buy or sell or possess about 28 grammes of marijuana. People can even cultivate marijuana at homes, with certain restrictions in place. The larger aim is to fully regulated marijunaa trade, including exports to neighbouring Latin American countries. This is also being done to stop organised crimes and cartel wars in the drug-ravaged country; Mexico drug cartels are famous for funnelling cannabis and other drugs into the US.
The Bottom Line
Mexico has a great history of cannabis use. The drug cartels have made millions by producing marijuana illegally and exporting it to the US, raking in millions of dollars. This has caused immense financial loss to Mexico, not to mention the bad name it has earned due to that. Now it has a great chance to become a major force in the global cannabis industry, which is still at an infant stage. The government wants to tap into its agricultural industry and its manufacturing capability to scale up the cannabis industry, which will definitely be a boost to its economy.
