At Canapé DC, we believe cannabis culture is global — and so is cannabis leadership.
This Cinco de Mayo, we’re proud to spotlight five extraordinary Mexican nationals who are revolutionizing the cannabis landscape through activism, law, politics, and entrepreneurship.

Each of these individuals has taken bold action to push cannabis policy toward justice, equity, and innovation — inspiring a new future not only for Mexico, but for the entire world.

🌿 Meet the Leaders:

1. Zara Snapp — Advocate for Equitable Drug Policy

Born in the U.S. and raised between Mexico and the United States, Zara Snapp holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard. She co-founded Instituto RIA, a Mexico City-based organization focused on drug policy reform, harm reduction, and restorative justice.

Her activism is rooted in creating people-first cannabis regulation — fighting for a model that prioritizes health, human rights, and reparative justice over profit. Snapp played a major advisory role during Mexico’s push toward legalization and continues to be a go-to expert on crafting cannabis laws that center marginalized communities.

Fun Fact: Zara is also the author of “Drogas: Un Viaje Prohibido” — a guidebook for understanding drugs without stigma.

2. Julio Salazar — Litigator for Legalization

Julio Salazar is a lawyer specializing in constitutional and human rights law at México Unido Contra la Delincuencia (MUCD). He became one of the most critical players in Mexico’s Supreme Court cannabis battles.

Through strategic litigation, Salazar and his team filed multiple “amparos” (legal injunctions) on behalf of individuals seeking the right to cultivate and consume cannabis. These victories set legal precedents that ultimately forced Mexico’s Congress to legislate cannabis reform.

Salazar’s work reframes cannabis use not as a criminal act, but as a matter of personal autonomy and freedom under Mexico’s constitution.

3. Luisa Conesa — Defender of Individual Rights

Luisa Conesa, a constitutional lawyer, first made headlines by challenging Mexico’s cannabis prohibition laws as unconstitutional. In 2015, she personally filed an “amparo” seeking permission for individual cannabis use, framing it as a fundamental human rights issue.

Her work highlights how prohibition violates rights to free development of personality — a concept protected under Mexico’s legal framework.

Conesa’s activism is particularly notable because it blends personal action with legal advocacy, encouraging everyday citizens to push for systemic change through the courts.

4. Patricia Mercado — Political Power for Progressive Policy

Patricia Mercado is a senator and longtime advocate for social justice in Mexico. A former presidential candidate (2006), she has spent years championing policies that support gender equity, labor rights, and cannabis legalization.
In the Senate, Mercado has pushed cannabis reform bills that emphasize social equity, proposing systems to ensure small farmers, Indigenous communities, and historically criminalized groups are given priority in Mexico’s emerging cannabis economy.

Her leadership represents the growing political momentum behind ethical cannabis legalization in Latin America.

5. Armando Santacruz — Entrepreneurial Activist

As a successful businessman, Armando Santacruz took an unusual path to cannabis advocacy. A co-founder of SMART (Sociedad Mexicana de Autoconsumo Responsable y Tolerante), he personally challenged cannabis prohibition by filing lawsuits asserting his right to personal consumption.
Santacruz views cannabis regulation not only as a legal matter but as a cultural shift toward tolerance and responsible adult use. His approach combines entrepreneurial spirit with civic activism, pushing for regulations that empower individuals rather than corporations.

He’s part of a larger movement seeking to normalize cannabis in mainstream Mexican society, far beyond just the legal sphere.

Why Their Work Matters

Mexico is undergoing a historic transformation. After decades of prohibition, Supreme Court rulings have declared cannabis bans unconstitutional, and the country is working toward full adult-use legalization.

However, true justice — economic opportunity, restorative practices, and cultural de-stigmatization — will require continued leadership like that of Snapp, Salazar, Conesa, Mercado, and Santacruz.

Their bravery, expertise, and commitment offer a blueprint for cannabis legalization that centers human rights, not just profit margins.

At Canapé DC, we honor their work and celebrate a future where cannabis is safe, equitable, and celebrated — across borders and beyond stigma.

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo! 🌿🇲🇽