Residents of the Cuauhtémoc borough protest against tolerance points for marijuana use.

MEXICO CITY (apro) .- For the second time in less than a week, residents of the Guerrero and Centro neighborhoods protested against the three marijuana tolerance points that the Mexico City government installed in the Cuauhtémoc borough on August 4.

The protesters set up two roadblocks, one at the intersection of Eje Central and Mina Street, and another in both directions of Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, at the intersection of Violeta Street. They stood with banners expressing their demands:

“For young people, boys and girls, no to the 420 cannabis camp” and “We demand the relocation of cannabis smokers.”

This is the second protest led by residents of Cuauhtémoc to dismantle the spaces designated for free cannabis consumption by the city government at the Simón Bolívar Monument, in the Plaza de la Concepción, and the Plaza de la Lectura José Saramago.

Although these spaces have information desks from the Institute for the Care and Prevention of Addictions (IAPA), as well as security personnel from the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC), the protesters argued that their perception of insecurity has increased. Furthermore, some employees of nearby businesses told the media that their establishments have been affected.

With the roadblocks, residents managed to establish a dialogue with the local government, after which they lifted the blockade on Eje Central; although some residents, who claimed they hadn't reached an agreement with the authorities, continued the blockade on Paseo de la Reforma until they were removed from the avenue by police officers equipped with helmets and shields.

On August 4, the installation of the "420 camps" was led by Government Secretary César Cravioto, who stated that authorities spoke with consumer groups that were present in other consumer spaces that were not regulated by the authorities and that they had already been dismantled.

Among the agreements, they established that the sale or exchange of this plant will not be permitted.

It was an operation that "relocated" other cannabis consumption spots that had operated for more than two years without the intervention of authorities. These spots were located near the Hidalgo Station of the Collective Transportation System (STC) Metro; as well as on Juárez Avenue, in front of the Museum of Memory and Tolerance; and at the Estela de Luz.

In an interview with Proceso , IAPA head Amaya Ordorika explained that the establishment of consumption points recognizes the need to generate agreements and regulations around this practice, as part of the right to free development of personality.