The CDMX government ended with the 4:20 a.m. sit-in on the outskirts of the Senate of the Republic (Photo: Cuartoscuro)

It was in October 2019 that the sit in 4:20also known as Cannabis Camp, which was set up in the Place Luis Pasteur, near the Senate of the Republic, to demand the legalization of marijuana and all uses that may exist in relation to this plant (medicinal, recreational and industrial); however, early in the morning of Saturday February 18, an operation carried out by the police of the capital put an end to this demonstration.

At 12:50 a.m. (Central Mexico time) Saturday, the operation began with members of the Citizen Security Secretary (SSC) of the Mexico City (CDMX), where, in addition to kicking out traders, 38 bushes and 28 pots of marijuana were removed. In this regard, the authority indicated that it proceeds in full respect of the law and respects the fundamental rights of the deportees.

Videos posted on social media show how uniformed officers proceeded to reclaim public space and pick up the bushes of this plant. Besides, elements of Limpia from the capital can be seen carry out gardening work to uproot the dozens of plants that were in Plaza Luis Pasteur.

Later, at 08:34 that same Saturday, Marti Batres, CDMX government secretary, confirmed the eviction, the removal of the tents and the recovery of the public square. In this regard, he pointed out that it was the Senate of the Republic itself which requested, by a point of agreement, that the cannabis sit-in be withdrawn, but did not specify the reasons.

It must be remembered that senators from all political parties had reported acts of violence inside the sit-in, as well as the loss of public peace in its periphery, since illegal activities such as drug trafficking, violent clashes and even assaults, were part of the new normal in the space neighbor of the Senate of the Republic.

However, it should be noted that when the Camp 4:20it kept a different spirit, which has been lost over time, since the distortion of slogans has given rise to acts of aggression, violence and opacity in Luis Pasteur square.

When Camp Started 4:20 a spirit of freedom opposed to agribusiness was transmitted, because, in view of the likely legalization of marijuana and its derivatives, a large group of young people asked the federal legislator to create a law that considered small producers, because, by comparing production methods in other countries, they realized that self-employed workers could not compete with industrialized products.

At the beginning of the camp, the small producers pointed out that the characteristics of products for humans by the large companies often have additives this could change the addiction factor, because if the legalization of cannabis use is not regulated enough, plants could be made with it nicotine.

Moreover, the introduction of agro-industry in the supply of seeds could generate a dependence on a single producer, as transgenic plants tend to give disposable seeds; i.e. the plants would be sterile and the grower would become addicted of those who supply them with seeds, violating their ability to profit in front of the giants of the industry.

Another market that could be exploited with the legalization of marijuana is that of constructionwell the hemp of this plant has proven to be extremely resistant, easy to produce, with thermal properties higher than those of other mineral materials, so that a large market could be generated in this material, for which the camp demanded clear rules which do not violate their rights as small producers and which do not affect health human or do not increase the dependency factor.

The sit-in has become a marijuana distribution point (Photo: Cuartoscuro)
The sit-in has become a marijuana distribution point (Photo: Cuartoscuro)

However, over the months, the sit-in rose to prominence as a marijuana distribution point near the Republic Senate, something that distorted the original purpose of setting up the camp. It was this public label that ended up contaminating the camp and setting the tone for the authorities to act against him.

Some statements posted on social media by different users or by some displaced protesters argued that the organized crime took possession of the premises, as they found a comfortable place to freely sell their products without the authorities doing anything to them. In addition, robberies and assaults were reported near the sit-in.

It is for this reason that, at first, the authorities began to carry out police mobilizations on the outskirts of the sit-in, but the hostile response from traders ended in clashes with the police; Finally, faced with the loss of public peace place Louis Pasteurthe Senate promoted an agreement for the authorities of the capital to take action on the matter and to evict the traders and remove the plants that were around the Upper House.

Between the first and second year of Camp 4:20, Senator Jesusa Rodriguezflag bearer of National regeneration movement (Morena) promoted the marijuana derivatives legalization agenda; In addition, he has done legislative work so that, as soon as possible, its consumption is decriminalized, since, in different parts of the republic, young people deprived of liberty were detained in prisons in Mexico for carrying 5 grams of marijuana . Something he considered excessive.

They hope to recover the public space (Photo: Cuartoscuro)
They hope to recover the public space (Photo: Cuartoscuro)

Part of the effect lawmakers and protesters hoped to achieve is to debunk the fact that marijuana use was linked to crime because, unlike other drugs, marijuana has a lower addiction factor than others, even with other legal drugs like alcohol. or tobacco, since the nicotine and tar (substances added to tobacco cigarettes), increase the addiction factor in the final product that reaches the consumer.

Another added value of correct legislation lies in the type of product to which one has access, as well as in the age group of consumers. According to lawmakers, maintaining the illegality of cannabis products prevents the state from intervening in the measures of quality and restriction of access to minorssince the youth population is one of the main consumers of marijuana.

In this regard, some medical studies indicate that if marijuana use begins in adolescence, it could generate greater addiction. Also, staying in the secretmany consumers use marijuana as a drug that brings them closer to other types of products as the cocaine or crystal. In such a way that bringing marijuana into the legal field could have a positive effect on consumers, since they would, in theory, not have to go to drug traffickers to access this substance.

Another advantage would be that drug traffickers would see their personal income affected by the withdrawal of an easy-to-sell product; however, in the parliamentary discussion there has been no substantial progress in this case, the industries that could benefit from legalization will therefore have to wait for the Senate to consider the aspects that may be disrupted in the daily lives of Mexicans.

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