Mexico to Legalize Medical Marijuana with President’s Signature

On Friday, Mexico’s lawmakers approved legalizing medical marijuana. The final vote was 371-7-11.

Now, President Enrique Pena Nieto’s signature is the only thing needed to officially legalize medical marijuana throughout Mexico, according to Reuters. The President is expected to sign the legislation soon.

On the Congress’ website, it reads, “The ruling eliminates the prohibition and criminalization of acts related to the medicinal use of marijuana and its scientific research, and those relating to the production and distribution of the plant for these purposes.”

In an April 2016 special session, Pena Nieto said that using drugs should be looked at as a “public health problem” and shouldn’t be criminalized behavior. Pena Nieto once opposed marijuana legalization of any kind. His decriminalization bill is stalled in Congress.