Mexico Cannabis Law

Mexico's cannabis legalization journey has been one of the most closely watched in the Americas. The Supreme Court's landmark 2018 amparo ruling declared prohibition unconstitutional, and Congress has been working through successive reform bills to establish a federal licensing regime under COFEPRIS. The regulatory framework, when fully enacted, is expected to create one of the largest cannabis markets in the western hemisphere given Mexico's population of 130 million.

Bob Hoban has advised US operators and investment funds evaluating Mexico market entry strategies, providing analysis of the regulatory timeline, license pathway structures, and cross-border supply chain implications under the USMCA. The current legal status is characterized by regulatory flux — personal use is permitted in practice while the commercial framework remains in formation.

Key advisory areas include navigating the amparo process for existing operators, structuring foreign investment in anticipation of licensing rules, and managing compliance obligations under Mexican commercial law for entities pre-positioning in the market.