Mexico
A TIMELINE TO LEGALIZATION
With a population of 130 million, Mexico is set to become the
largest market worldwide to legalize cannabis for recreational
use in 2020. Draft legislation suggests this ease of the law could
be worth $1.2bn to the nation’s pocket by 2028. We take a look
at the country’s long history with cannabis.
Pedro Cuadrado, a
conquistador (Spanish-
appointed representative
in Mexico) is credited
with introducing the
hemp plant to Mexico.
He and a friend
reportedly ran a
successful hemp
cultivation business until
the Spanish governor
ordered them to limit
production after the
natives began using the
plants recreationally.
SIXTEENTH
CENTURY
78
Spain’s economy begins to
decline, so the government
decides to turn to its
colonies. Specialists are
sent to The Americas to
instruct and encourage
locals to farm hemp,
specifi cally in areas such as
California.
EIGHTEENTH
CENTURY
Hemp harvests from
Mexico and California
go according to plan
until the Mexican War
of Independence breaks
out in 1810, leading to
Spain’s loss of its American
colonies. Government
subsidies for hemp are no
longer available and hemp
cultivation is on the decline. Recreational marijuana
use is widespread in
Mexico. In 1882, Mexico
City enforces bans on
cannabis, alcohol and cards
from the military hospital
in an effort to curtail
fi ghting. Newspapers in
Mexico and the US spread
sensationalist stories about
people using marijuana
causing people to commit
violent crimes.
EARLY
NINETEENTH
CENTURY LATE
NINETEENTH
CENTURY