Dalai Lama Supports Medical Use of Psychoactive Cannabis

The Dalai Lama is not concerned about the issue of recreational cannabis use, but the spiritual leader told his supporters in Mexico that he supports the legalization of medical cannabis. He made this statement during a discussion on banned substances at an event in Mexico City organized by former president Vicente Fox.

Fox supports the legalization of cannabis for another reason as well—it could deprive criminal cartels, responsible for much of the country’s violence, of income from the cannabis trade.

The Tibetan spiritual leader stated that “an exception should be made” for the use of cannabis because it has beneficial pharmaceutical properties. However, he added, “on the other hand, if someone uses cannabis to alter their consciousness, that is not good.”

Interestingly, the Mexican government did not officially welcome the leader of Tibetan Buddhism during his five-day visit to the country. This was because the current president of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, wanted to maintain friendly relations with China, which occupied Tibet in 1950. China considers the Dalai Lama a dangerous separatist—he has lived in exile in India for decades.