On 21 August 2009, Mexico decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis and other drugs in order to reduce the illicit drug activity. Maximum amounts which could be considered "personal use" were established. Under the new law, anyone caught with up to five grams of cannabis will be advised to seek a drug rehabilitation center rather than arrested or fined. President Felipe Calderon claimed the change would allow law enforcement to focus on major traffickers rather than minor consumers. In practice, minor drug possession was already widely tolerated by police.

Mexico passed a bill through both the Senate and the Lower House of Congress with the majority, and the President Enrique Pena Nieto signed the bill on June 19th, 2017. This legislation legalized cannabis-based substances for medicinal purposes. These substances, pharmacological derivatives of cannabis, such as oils and pills must contain no more than 1% THC.