Mexico missed an April 30th deadline that Mexico’s supreme court set to meet and vote on the legalization of hemp and marijuana. The meeting was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic that is currently spreading around the globe. While the delay occurred, the next scheduled legislative session is on September 1st to December 15th.

Luis Armendáriz, an attorney in Chihuahua, Mexico, who is affiliated with Denver’s Hoban Law Group said that there have already been “big steps that have been taken” towards the legalization of hemp and marijuana in the country. Before the COVID-19 delay, a majority of Mexico’s senators had approved the legalization bill in committee. This is an important step, as there has to be a consensus from all political parties. Armendáriz believes that the delay could even improve the measure.

However, it is important to note that if legislation is passed, it could still take years for Mexico to set up regulations for hemp and marijuana businesses to grow and sell cannabis products.

Before the coronavirus stopped lawmakers’ work, a majority of senators approved a legalization bill in committee – an important step because there had to be a consensus from all the political parties. He said the delay could even be an opportunity to improve the measure.

Whenever the legislation is passed, it could still take years for Mexico to set up regulations for how hemp and marijuana business can grow and sell cannabis products. The attitude in the industry feels that the country is very supportive of the measure, as Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador also supports legalization.

During the last session, lawmakers had a list of legislative priorities they wanted to pass; the Legalization of marijuana and hemp was number four on the list, and amnesty for non-violent drug offenses was number one.