It was by no means the first organized cannabis event in Mexico City, but on May 6 and 7, the Cannabis Hub expo did manage to tackle the issue of the plant’s legalization from a different viewpoint.
While thousands took to the streets on Saturday afternoon in a jubilant cloud of smoke for the city’s 16th annual Marcha Cannabica, the tone at Cannabis Hub was more studious. These were the weed users with 200 pesos to drop on attending a day of workshops, who wanted to learn about soil pH or about initiating their own amparo, (a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the state’s ban on marijuana consumption that four activists successfully used to obtain their own personal growing rights from the country’s Supreme Court last fall.)
Political conversations revolved around that Supreme Court decision, which was based on the Mexican constitution’s right to develop one’s own personality. Many think that the ruling will be the key to moving forward on legalization — more important, even, than President Enrique Peña Nieto’s proposal that Congress raise the amount of weed that one is legally allowed to carry from five to 28 grams.
Special guests included cannabis club pioneers Martin Barriuso from País Vasco and Juan Baz of Uruguay, the latter shattering minds during his Saturday workshop on cannabis extracts (Baz advocates for the use of alcohol over U.S. favorite petroleum when processing, to avoid poisoning oneself over time.)
And it wasn’t just activists on stage. Cannabis Hub organizers also wanted to present the more market-driven view points that are dominating U.S. legalization. Colorado-based marijuana economic consultant Adam Orens presented in English on the history of legalization in his state and on the importance of the relationship between “the industry and government,” presenting a different view of change than other speakers who focused on the power of citizen-run cannabis clubs.
Remezcla got to speak with some Cannabis Hub attendees about what they were getting out of their weed weekend.
Photos by Caitlin Donohue.
1
Israel Rosas, 27 years old, musician
“I came to Cannabis Hub to hear other voices, about the experiences they’ve had. I wanted to learn about something that happens everywhere but that in our country, we have to do in the shadows, hidden away, without any way of professionalizing the things that you can do with marijuana.”
2
Vania Castaños López, 26 years old, journalist
“I came because I’m interested in starting to grow my own marijuana. Today I’ve learned what you need in terms of soil, the difference between the female and male seeds, how you can put them in water to see which ones float. The seeds that float are the ones that won’t work. Things like that.”
3
Caracol López, 29 years old, social media producer
“I’m personally interested in issues of legalization, amparos, how much I’m legally allowed to carry without being sent to jail, that kind of thing. You can start your amparo here for free, you just have to sign up. I’ll probably start mine today.”
4
Alberto Bustamante aka Mexican Jihad, 30 years old, architect and Creative Director of N.A.A.F.I
“Above all, I’m here to support my friends and the different organizations that have put together the forum. As a Mexican living in 2016, it seems like the most responsible and conscious option, to be in favor of the legalization of drugs. For me, it’s a very urgent issue here in Mexico.”
5
Omar Feliciano, 38 years old, social psychologist and digital communications
“I want to know what organizations are fighting for better access to information about drugs so that people can avoid myths, so that they won’t be extorted by the police, so that they have the correct information, so that they change the way they are consuming drugs, particularly marijuana.”