La mariguana y sus implicaciones en las políticas públicas y la salud de México

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One of the main challenges in facing any complex and multifactorial phenomenon such as the use of drugs is to convey clearly and forcefully the logic behind the public policy proposed in response. Although historically the marijuana debate has been thought of as one of binary responses ("For or against legalization?"), Mexico today deserves a high-level dialogue that understands that "legalizing" is nothing more than a legal process that does NOT imply a public policy model. Those who study and promote a reform of drug policy vary on the ideological spectrum. In fact, even those places that have advanced legal regulation of cannabis for recreational purposes raise different models of regulation. In Mexico, many people are afraid of "legalization" because they have associated the meaning of the term with that of "liberalization". In this sense, oversimplification with empty terms with specific characteristics for legislation or public management are not useful in public debate. The hypotheses that suggest a correlation (or even a causality) between the use of drugs and the commission of other crimes have permeated public opinion given the ambiguity of the approaches. While compared to the general population, criminals report high rates of drug use and those who use drugs are more often in conflict with the law, the relationship between drugs and crime is not simple or linear. It is not universal either. Decision makers must stop taking for granted that there is a connection between drug use and crime, especially if the objective is to respond effectively to "the demand", and the health needs of people with a problem of addiction. Cataloging people who use drugs as criminals is, without a doubt, the wrong approach for the office responsible for ensuring a public health approach to the drug phenomenon. Finally, we must recognize the openness of Commissioner Mondragón to an informed debate. "I want the people who talk about legalization to tell me what the regulation would mean and how they will apply it," he said in his interview. Several former presidents and public figures recently published a series of legal recommendations in this regard. Similarly, Mexico United Against Delinquency published a concrete proposal for the legal regulation of cannabis. It is worth remembering the experiences of the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Uruguay, Colorado and Washington as some examples of viable alternatives to current policy. After all, Mondragon's role as commissioner is to ensure that the objectives of drug policy in Mexico are based on science and efficiency, not on morality and prejudice.

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