Mexican deputy proposes legal poppy cultivation for medical use to UN and WHO

Mexican federal deputy Mario Zamora Gastélum has presented a proposal to the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, advocating for Mexico to legally cultivate poppy for medical use. The initiative, termed "licit productive reconversion," suggests that a legal and regulated production of poppy could be directed towards manufacturing essential pain-treatment medications.

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The central objective is to generate a model of social justice that destigmatizes rural communities in Sinaloa, strengthens regional economic development, and offers formal, dignified, and secure jobs for thousands of peasant and indigenous families.

Zamora Gastélum argues that this approach would provide an economic alternative for thousands of Mexican families and simultaneously weaken the financial sources of organized crime. The proposal outlines the creation of a strict regulatory framework for the controlled production of poppy-derived medicines, such as medical-grade morphine, as well as cannabis derivatives for therapeutic purposes, all under the supervision of the Mexican state.

"The central objective is to generate a model of social justice that destigmatizes rural communities in Sinaloa, strengthens regional economic development, and offers formal, dignified, and secure jobs for thousands of peasant and indigenous families," Zamora stated. He emphasized that for decades, efforts have focused on combating the consequences of drug trafficking without addressing the root causes, proposing to shift control of these markets from criminal organizations to state oversight.

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For decades we have fought the consequences without transforming the causes. Today we propose to take control of these markets away from crime and place them under the State's leadership, turning a security problem into a solution for public health, economic development, and the well-being of our people in the sierra.

Drawing inspiration from regulated schemes in countries like India and Turkey, which have established systems for medicinal opioid production under strict governmental and international supervision, Zamora plans to further refine the technical, sanitary, and governance aspects of his initiative. He will meet with specialists at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and Harvard University in the United States to strengthen the proposal. Zamora believes Sinaloa has the potential to become a global leader in legal, safe, and regulated medication production, presenting it as a viable alternative for peace, development, and opportunity.

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Sinaloa has the capacity to become a world reference for legal, safe, and regulated production of medicines. We come to the UN and WHO to demonstrate that real alternatives exist to build peace, development, and opportunities for our people.