MEXICO: Hundreds take to the streets of Mexico to demand legalization of marijuana

Record ID: 303427

  • Title: MEXICO: Hundreds take to the streets of Mexico to demand legalization of marijuana
  • Date: 4th May 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR OF CENTER FOR CANNABIS STUDIES, LEOPOLDO RIVERA, SAYING: "The penalization lends itself for a lot of corruption and extortion by authorities against young consumers who are not aware of their rights. This law would eliminate the extortion and corruption that is being exercised against young consumers."
  • Embargoed: 19th May 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Reuters ID: LVADFXI8OZEBQPI54I7LAYFLLJQ7
  • Story Text: Smoking joints, hundreds of marijunana enthusiasts march through Mexico City to demand legalization of marijuana for therapeutic and medicinal purposes.
    Hundreds of activists gathered in Mexico City on Saturday (May 03) to call for the legalization of marijuana, reiterating the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.
    Activists participating in the International Day for the Legalization of Marijuana believe it has been unfairly categorized as an illicit drug alongside more dangerous drugs like cocaine and heroin.
    Activists pointed to marijuana's medicinal benefits in treating ailments such as glaucoma, digestive and central nervous system ailments, rheumatoid arthritis. It has also been proven effective at lessening the side effects of patients undergoing chemotherapy.

    "Cannabis should be legalized for therapeutic and medicinal purposes. This would benefit many sectors of the population and that is the idea behind two initiatives that we have presented (to Congress) so far,"
    Congresswoman Elsa Conde told Reuters.
    A bill has been presented to the Mexican congress asking for the legalization of the consumption of marijuana for therapeutic and industrial purposes. Opponents of marijuana legalization often point to marijuana as a "gateway" drug, opening the door to use of more dangerous drugs.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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