As of late, the US has had pressure from both internal and external forces to legalize cannabis. Or, at the very least, pressure to change the scheduling of the plant. Today, outlets reported that Mexico’s Supreme Court decriminalized cannabis for adult use. In addition, the court ruled cannabis prohibition unconstitutional. Effectively, it permits adults to possess and cultivate small quantities of marijuana without penalty. This would put the United States in between two countries that have done so.
“With these actions by the Court, the United States has become an island of federal marijuana prohibition in North America,” said Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML, in a press release
The adult-use market however is not available yet. Regardless, when that time comes it would make Mexico the largest cannabis marketplace by population in the world. Considering the relationship we share with cannabis, one could imagine the effect that will have on the US cannabis marketplace, legal or not.
Furthermore, those within our own country are starting to see the hypocrisy in our cannabis laws.
CONSERVATIVE SUPPORT IN THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
Additionally, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas submitted a five-page statement on confusing cannabis laws. The Supreme Court Justice sent the opinion Monday after a case hearing between the IRS and cannabis companies was denied last week. Justice Thomas wrote the statement, in respect of the denial but, in the question of the law’s hypocrisy. In consideration of the way some individual states have approached cannabis, Thomas stated, “prohibition on interstate use or cultivation of marijuana may no longer be necessary or proper.”
“If the Government is now content to allow States to act ‘as laboratories’ “‘and try novel social and economic experiments… then it might no longer have authority to intrude on ‘[t]he States’ core police powers . . . to define criminal law and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their citizens.”
-Statement of THOMAS, J. 1 SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES STANDING AKIMBO, LLC, ET AL., v. UNITED STATES ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
Thomas continues to identify the government’s “half-in, half-out” approach to cannabis; even identifying ways that it sets the industry up for failure. In the grand scheme of things, he brings attention to some truths that our government doesn’t want to admit. Either way, the news brings the ‘legalize cannabis’ attention back to the US, especially after the campaigning in the previous presidential race. As bipartisan support gains, let’s hope we don’t remain that island of cannabis prohibition.
