By Francisco Peyret
The world recognizes the great benefits of cannabis, hemp, and marijuana, and the trend is toward legalizing its different uses. Canada, the United States, Holland, Israel, and Uruguay are pioneering countries in the legalization, innovation, and growth of the cannabis industry worldwide. According to The Global Cannabis Report of December 2021, the global market for marijuana and its derivatives will generate sales of 102 billion dollars in 2026. Mexico is expected to be one of the leading countries in the industry.
We interviewed former President Vicente Fox Quesada in the context of the 4th edition of CANNA MEXICO 2022, to be held on October 19 and 20, in San Cristobal, Guanajuato. We first questioned Fox about the legal aspects of the cannabis industry in Mexico and how our country can compare with other countries. He gave us a concrete and clear explanation of his proposals.
The former president expressed that we are far behind in relation to many countries and it is essential that Mexican legislators finish the process that began in October 2018, when the Supreme Court of Justice of the nation established jurisprudence for the recreational consumption of marijuana by the ruling, for the fifth time, the unconstitutionality of the absolute prohibition of the recreational use of the plant.
In terms of health, Mr. Fox said that marijuana has proven to be helpful, especially for people with chronic ailments such as migraines, muscle pain, muscle spasticity, and fibromyalgia, among others. Likewise, it is a potent analgesic in traumas that affect the spinal cord. There are also various products being applied in the veterinary sector. “There are no longer only products for humans; pets are also included in this industry,» he commented.
Regarding the business related to the cannabis industry, our interviewee assured us that this is an industry with an enormous amount of research and development of products containing CBD for medical use that have already been tested worldwide. It has been proven that production and commercialization generate billions of dollars for the destinations or cities that drive this industry. But he also points out that «it is necessary for Mexico to regulate the recreational side of cannabis. It is the other half that we are missing,» he said.
We questioned him about the position of small agricultural producers because there is a fear that large corporations absorb all the benefits of the industry. He pointed out that it is like any industrial sector. When it is connected with the development of suppliers, there are benefits for all sizes of businesses. Fox said, «In this industry, everyone fits,» but it is necessary that the exchange of information and public policies are at the height of the development of this industrial sector.
Finally, we asked the former president about the measures taken by U.S. President Joe Biden last week to free thousands of people convicted of «simple possession» of marijuana under federal law. On this issue, he said that it is a significant step of his government toward decriminalizing this drug. In addition, the U.S. government will save millions of dollars by releasing thousands of people who should not be in jail. «It is not possible that federal legislation clashes with state legislation; it is absurd,» he commented.
When referring to the recreational use of cannabis, Fox ended the interview by saying, «We already need to erase from our minds that this industry is perverse. Using cannabis in moderation brings many benefits, but if someone wants to get super high, get crazy, well it is not right either, as any excess is not good for health. For these reasons it is imperative to regularize and provide information in an adequate manner,» he concluded.
