A faint, familiar skunky scent mingles with the smell of fresh rain on the cobblestones of trendy neighborhoods across Mexico. The distinct smell does not come from a shadowy alleyway deal, but from a brightly lit, modern storefront. Inside, glass jars brimming with glistening buds with names like “Oaxacan Gold” and “Sour Diesel” and bags of gummy bears line the shelves. A knowledgeable “budtender” discusses terpene profiles and THC percentages with a customer. It looks like a dispensary in Los Angeles, Amsterdam, or Toronto, but it’s not; this is the new face of cannabis in Mexico.

But this is a very recent development. Despite what many foreigners believe, cannabis has been culturally taboo in Mexico for decades, especially among the middle class. Twenty years ago, even the most debauched abusers of alcohol saw cannabis as something dangerous and beneath them. In the 2010’s when legalization began to gain momentum in the United States and Canada, attitudes began to change, and before you knew it, the sight of the Marijuana leaf started to become destigmatized as even grandmothers started to flock to low THC, high CBD oils to treat their aches and pains. 

In 2021, Mexico’s Supreme Court made a landmark ruling, declaring the absolute prohibition of recreational cannabis unconstitutional. The decision was meant to force the government’s hand, compelling Congress to create a regulated adult-use market. But that never happened. Political gridlock and hesitation left the country in a state of green limbo. Yet, rather than stalling progress, this legislative paralysis has created a fascinating, chaotic, and uniquely Mexican experiment in cannabis culture, driven by a powerful legal tool: the amparo.

The Power of the Amparo: A Personal Legal Shield

The amparo is a Mexican legal injunction that protects an individual from laws that violate their constitutional rights. Following the Supreme Court’s precedent, an unknown number of Mexicans have successfully applied for amparos for personal recreational use. This legal document doesn’t legalize sale or large-scale production, but it grants the holder the right to possess, transport, and consume cannabis without fear of prosecution.

For people like Josefina, a graphic designer in Cancún, the amparo was a game-changer. “Before, buying was a nervous transaction with someone you didn’t know, never sure of the quality or safety,” she explains. “Now, with my amparo, I feel much safer. It’s not just about avoiding trouble; it’s about being able to feel confident in my own choices.”

This sense of legitimacy is the bedrock upon which a new, braver market is being built. Entrepreneurs and activists, many of them amparo holders themselves, are interpreting the collective weight of these individual rulings as a mandate to operate openly.

The Gray Market Blooms: From Coffeeshops to Storefronts

Walk into a place like Hierba Verde in Mexico City’s Roma Norte district, and the concept of a “gray market” becomes tangible. It operates under a members-only or “gift economy” model—a legal workaround seen in other markets before full regulation. You pay for a membership or a high-value product like a piece of art or a T-shirt, and the cannabis is provided as a “gift.” The transaction is transparent, the product is lab-tested, and the environment is professional.

Further north, in the artistic hubs like Mexico City and Guadalajara, a different model has emerged. Shops like Cannabis Club GDL operate as private clubs. Entry requires showing your amparo or a medical prescription, creating a community of “licensed” consumers. Inside, the atmosphere is more social, akin to a Spanish asociación cannabica, with events, education workshops, and a clear focus on safe consumption and harm reduction. Yet, more and more, these “clubs” are beginning to look and operate a lot more like normal retail shops. On the main avenues of some major cities, one can now even find informal stands selling everything from cannabis plants to seeds, though they tend to have signs asking passersby not to take photographs. 

Meanwhile, in beach destinations like Tulum or Playa del Carmen, the market is more fluid and commercial. Stores often blur the lines more aggressively, selling directly to tourists despite the legal risks, capitalizing on the relaxed enforcement and high demand. The quality here can be inconsistent, a reminder that without regulation, the consumer’s experience varies wildly.

The Challenges of an Unregulated Boom

The lack of a formal regulatory framework means no standardized testing for pesticides or potency. While reputable shops do their own lab tests, no government body ensures this happens. The “gift” model is also inherently precarious, leaving businesses vulnerable to shifting interpretations by local authorities, leading to occasional, though increasingly rare, police raids.

One of the ironic twists of the lack of a regulatory framework is that much of the high-end cannabis consumed in Mexico is now smuggled in from the United States, as can be seen at shops like the swanky “Weed Palace” in Mexico City’s Zona Rosa. But Canabbis products are now becoming more and more visible in less high-value estate areas, as is for example in the form of “Marijuana Icecream” in Xochimilco. Beware, it really packs a punch (trust me on this one!). 

A Culture Forged in the Gray

Despite the challenges, a profound cultural shift is undeniable. Cannabis is being openly discussed in the media, at family dinners, and in political debates. The stigma is eroding and on the verge of disappearing entirely. 

They exist in a shade of gray, but for the thousands of Mexicans who now consume without fear, the future has never looked greener. The law will eventually catch up, but for now, the culture is writing its own rules. One thing is for sure: Cannabis culture in Mexico has changed, and it’s hard to imagine it ever going back to the way it was.

Carlos Rosado van der Gracht

Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a journalist, photographer and adventure leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada, and Norway.