MEXICO CITY (MEXICO) – Stoners in the Mexican capital are a happy lot as a cannabis corner has come up next to the Senate building and it has become a weed smokers’ hub without fear of being arrested.
The Senate’s pro-marijuana activists had sown seeds of cannabis in February in a plaza near the chamber and now they have grown into large plants. This symbolises the drive to legalise marijuana in the country suffering from violence linked to drug cartels.
“Being able to smoke here (in the garden) in freedom is very important to me,” said Marco Flores, a barista.
“I no longer go out on the streets in fear”.
Though the country’s Supreme Court has come out with a verdict that laws banning the use of cannabis are unconstitutional, the government is yet to draft a legislation legalising its use.
In the weed garden run by the activists, smokers are allowed for 30 minutes where they can smoke in peace. The police turn a blind eye to the cannabis corner although its fate is still unclear.
“It’s great that they have opened a space for people who are open to new experiences, or who want to find out a little bit about this subject,” said Carlos Diaz, another smoker. “They can come and check it out.”
Marijuana activist Jose Rivera said the garden is a way to educate and offer ‘human rights’.
“We want (Mexican lawmakers) to understand that we are smoking quietly and that we are not a risk to anyone,” he said. “Enough of the mistreatment.”