Mexico continues to take steps after the legalization of medicinal cannabis in 2017. After the registration of a draft law to legalize cannabis recreationally, it was approved by the Chamber of Deputies with 316 votes in favour, 129 against and 23 abstentions. This vote allows Mexico to join other countries such as Uruguay or Canada where the recreational use of cannabis is already legal.

Last January and under the signature of the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Regulation of the General Health Law on Health Control for the Production, Research and Medicinal Use of Cannabis and its Pharmacological Derivatives was published. This regulation defines the control, promotion and health surveillance of raw materials, pharmacological derivatives and cannabis-based medicines for production, research, manufacturing and medical purposes.

The law states that any person who produces or distributes cannabis and its derivatives for marketing and sale for recreational purposes must be a license holder. This license will dictate the right to carry out the activities of the productive chain in an integral way, from cultivation to commercialization, or partially,, allowing the cultivation of cannabis in the areas specified in the license.

What does THE REGULATION regulate for recreational cannabis use?

Specifically, the actions regulated by the Regulation are:

  1. Supply the manufacture of pharmacological derivatives and medicines.
  2. Generate the raw material necessary to carry out health research.
  3. Manufacture of medicines and pharmacological derivatives.
  4. Actions carried out by health professionals , aimed at diagnosis, prevention, rehabilitation therapy and palliative care.
  5. Quality control laboratories.
  6. Grant the  necessary permits for the planting, cultivation and harvesting of Cannabis and its species.
  7. Import and export of raw materials, pharmacological derivatives and medicines of Cannabis.

As points to be highlighted, we find that traceability and its system for administration and implementation will be operated by specialized technological tools. A single, comprehensive public control and inspection program will be implemented.

This fact, together with the legalization of medicinal cannabis, has meant a further advance in the broader reform carried out in the sector, which leads Mexico to become the largest legal cannabis market in the world, with new medicinal standards at the state level that companies must comply with to obtain the permission of the Mexican health regulator (COFERPRIS).

Discover more news about medicinal cannabis  and everything related to this sector on our Devecan website.

Author:

Laura Taibo
GMP Consultant