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Mexico's federal government began studying the economic, social and public safety impact of regulating poppy and opium gum for medicinal purposes and scientific research.
Members of the inner circle of President Enrique Peña Nieto and of the safety and safety cabinets said that a bill will be taken to Congress before the end of the year.
The proposal includes a pilot plan with farmers in Guerrero to produce poppy that would be processed at national laboratories.
"However it is a touchy subject, because it has international implications; Afghanistan is the largest producer of poppies in the world and there are other nations that could represent an obstacle," they said.
One of the officials consulted explained that very little opium gum is needed to produce several medicines, especially those used to reduce pain and anxiety, such as morphine.
On May 4 EL UNIVERSAL reported that the governor of Guerrero, Héctor Astudillo, said that regulating poppies for medicinal purposes was necessary to reduce violence among criminal groups.
Manuel Mondragón y Kalb, National Commissioner Against Addictions, said at a press conference with the National Association of Pharmacies of Mexico (ANAFARMEX) that the production of medicines made with opium is being analyzed, as well as the potential demand and justification for their use.
He added that heroine, made with opium gum, does not have much demand in Mexico and that the country is only used to take it to the United States.
(With information from Astrid Rivera)
