After the 420 community's gathering, Security Services (SSC) patrol Information Square

After the 420 community's gathering, Security Services (SSC) patrol Information Square

In the heart of Mexico City, a change has taken place. The Information Plaza, once a vibrant hub for the cannabis community, is now a peaceful area for reading, chatting, and other activities. The cannabis community, previously a common sight, has been relocated as part of an agreement with the Mexico City government.

The relocation of the community, known as 420, from the Information Plaza near Hidalgo Station on Line 2 of the Metro, has resulted in a noticeable decrease in marijuana odor near the Hidalgo Metro facilities. The smell of marijuana that used to enter the Metro from the Information Plaza is no longer perceptible.

The Mexico City government has removed the cannabis community from the Information Plaza in accordance with their relocation agreement. This move is part of an ongoing process awaiting full cannabis regulation in Mexico City. Despite Mexico's Supreme Court ruling recreational cannabis prohibition unconstitutional in 2021, a full regulatory framework has not been implemented. Therefore, the city's experiment with designated zones is also viewed as a temporary measure. Activists have protested the relocation as discriminatory and a form of hiding or "whitewashing" users instead of legislating their rights properly.

In response to tensions and concerns among local residents about safety and public order, police and social workers are present in the area of the relocated community 420 near Hidalgo Station. The police ensure compliance with new rules, while social workers monitor and support community well-being.

The government has granted three other spaces for marijuana consumption to the relocated cannabis community: Conception Plaza, Simón Bolívar Monument, and José Saramago Literature Plaza. Six police officers with shields are stationed in the vicinity of the Information Plaza and along Hidalgo Avenue, Reforma, and Basilio Badillo. The police officers stated that they will remain permanently at their posts, unless they receive another instruction.

Upon exiting Hidalgo Metro, a dozen people are found reading books, using their phones, or chatting on the benches of the now empty Information Plaza. Two workers from the Secretary of Works and Services (Sobse) are painting the bars in the area where community 420 was relocated black. No police officers are present in the Information Plaza, as they have been stationed along Hidalgo Avenue, Reforma, and Basilio Badillo.

This change marks a new chapter for the Information Plaza, offering a quieter and more peaceful environment for the general public. However, the debates and controversies surrounding the relocation of the cannabis tolerance zones continue, reflecting the ongoing discussions about marijuana use in public spaces.

[1] References: Various news sources, including El Universal, Milenio, and Reforma.

1. The Information Plaza, once a hotspot for the cannabis community, is now transitioning into a tranquil area for reading, chatting, and other activities, transforming the space into a popular destination for those seeking a peaceful environment.
2. The relocation of the cannabis community, known as 420, from the Information Plaza has led to a significant decrease in the marijuana odor in the area near Hidalgo Metro facilities, creating a more pleasant experience for commuters.
3. While the city's experiment with designated zones for marijuana consumption continues, three other spaces for marijuana consumption have been granted to the relocated cannabis community – Conception Plaza, Simón Bolívar Monument, and José Saramago Literature Plaza.
4. Activists continue to voice concerns about the relocation of the cannabis community, arguing that it is a form of discrimination and a failure to legislate users' rights properly, sparking ongoing debates about marijuana use in public spaces.
5. As part of the new arrangement, police officers are present in the vicinity of the relocated community 420 near Hidalgo Station, ensuring compliance with new rules and monitoring community well-being, while six officers have been stationed along Hidalgo Avenue, Reforma, and Basilio Badillo to maintain security.

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