Mexico's Supreme Court made a hefty statement on Wednesday (Nov. 4) when it voted that individuals should have the right to grow and distribute marijuana for personal use, the New York Times reports.

While the Supreme Court's criminal chamber's ruling doesn't officially legalize pot in the country just yet, it does make it significantly easier for the laws to be changed in the future.

The news comes directly on the heels of Ohio's decision on Tuesday not to legalize marijuana in the state.

Mexico's history of with drug trafficking is long, and deeply connected to the United States' own "War on Drugs" policies. "Today, the flow of drugs to the United States continues, along with the political corruption it fuels in Mexico," the Times reports. "The country, dispirited by the ceaseless fight with traffickers, remains engulfed in violence."

A shift toward decriminalization and, ultimately, legalization of drugs is a worldwide trend: Uruguay introduced marijuana legalization in 2013 and on Tuesday (Nov. 3) Ireland took steps to decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs like marijuana, heroin and cocaine and focus instead on rehabilitation efforts for those struggling with addiction.

Stateside, major political players in the U.S. are also getting in on the action. From Democratic hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders to President Obama, there are renewed efforts to change the way we look at drug laws right here at home.