After many states of the US made it legal to use marijuana for either medical or recreational purposes, it is time for Mexico to follow the suit. If everything goes as per plan soon it will be legal to hold an ounce of marijuana in Mexico, although only for the medical purposes.

The Senate in Mexico passed a bill with an overwhelming majority to approve the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Senator Cristina Diaz Salazar, who belongs to President Enrique Pena Nieto’s Institutional Revolutionary Party, said that this measure was taken keeping in mind the requirement of the patients. There are many ailments where pot-based medicines are known to have a very positive effect, but as the marijuana is illegal in Mexico these patients do not have access to any such medicine.

Most of the senators have called it as a historic step that will ensure the betterment of those who are in dire need of medicines that are pot based. After getting passed in the Senate, now the legislation has gone for consideration to the lower Chamber of Deputies.

The Senate has summarised the discussion that took place during the proceedings by saying, “The measure directs the Health Department to devise public policies for regulating the medicinal usage of this cannabis plant and its derivatives.”

While most of the senators were in favour of making it legal for medical purposes, there were some who voted against it. Sen. Armando Rios Piter, who belongs to the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, said that he agrees that passing this legislation will help those patients who are suffering from chronic ailments. But at the same time, it will lead to more of the organised crime. In his exact words, “To celebrate that we are making a material change on cannabis would be fooling ourselves at this phase of the game.”

From past one decade, a militarised offensive was launched against Mexico’s drug cartels, but from past one year, the government has started giving some relaxation. It is granting permits to some terminally ill patients to import marijuana-based medicinal products. While those permits were individual specific, if this legislation is passed then it will be applicable for everyone in the society.