The legalisation of small amounts of marijuana for recreational use, which will allow the drug to be taxed and regulated, in two US states will prompt debate on anti-drug policies in Mexico as well, and on the coordination of strategies between the two countries, experts say.

“The least bad option is legalisation,”Jorge Chabat, at the Centre for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE), said. “It will have an impact on the way prohibition is designed, because there will be a cascade effect, and we’ll see changes very soon.”

On election day in the US Tuesday, Colorado and Washington became the first states to approve referendums for the legalisation of marijuana – up to one ounce for personal use for adults 21 and over.

via US drug legalisations reverberate in Mexico – Features – Al Jazeera English.