Analysis of Cannabis Regulation in Mexico and Latin America from a Human Rights Perspective

Abstract

Mexico, like much of Latin America, throughout its history has been marked by conflicts stemming from the illicit drug industry. Therefore, the transition to regulations focused on access to cannabis is a point of contention due to the stigma attached to the plant. Even access to medicinal uses has been affected by laws resulting from this context.

However, the growing interest in various countries regarding scientific advances and the contributions of cannabis derivatives to health has led to legislative advances that have directly influenced the road that contemporary regulations are taking.

Therefore, this study aims to perform a comparative analysis between the Mexican cannabis regulation system and the systems of countries with greater access to medical and recreational uses, with the objective of weighing the approach that offers greater enjoyment of the human right to health. Additionally, information is extracted on cannabis as an object of study from a multidisciplinary approach between psychiatry, medicine and law, to determine its suitability as a treatment alternative in certain cases and to determine public policies for the treatment of problematic consumption.