Former Mexican President Vicente Fox Says He Would Grow Marijuana If It Was Legal

Less than a week after voicing his support for legalized marijuana at a Seattle convention, former Mexican President Vicente Fox openly stated to the press his support for less restrictive pot laws.

Fox said in a statement to reporters Wednesday that the marijuana industry should be made favorable for businesses, not drug traffickers. The former president, who was in office from 2000-2006 under the PAN, or National Action Party, said he would become a part of the commercialization of the plant if it were to become legal in Mexico, citing his roots as a farmer more so than his roots as a businessman -- Fox worked as an executive for Coca-Cola -- as his reason, NBC News reported.

"Of course," Fox said when asked if he would enter the marijuana business. "Once it's legitimate and legal, of course, I can do so, I'm a farmer. Producers of all types can participate."

Fox's words come after a youth forum at his property where he advocated legalizing marijuana. At the convention in Seattle last week, where Microsoft manager Jamen Shively revealed his plans to connect marijuana dispensaries in Washington, Colorado and California in an effort to produce the country's first retail brand of marijuana, Fox used Mexico's drug war as a backing for his statement, noting the 7,000 plus deaths under former President Felipe Calderon, his successor from 2006-2012.

"In Mexico we welcome this initiative," Fox said, "because the cost of the war in the case of Mexico is becoming unbearable, too high for Mexico, Latin America and the rest of the world."

He made a similar statement to reporters following the youth seminar, alluding to big drug lord "El Chapo" Guzman, whose Sinaloa cartel has been terrorizing Mexico for years.

"Marijuana with adequate control and legalization can be a perfectly legal industry and operation that would take millions of dollars off criminals, that money would now belong to businessmen and not 'El Chapo' Guzmán," he said.

Current PRI -- Institutional Revolution Party -- President Enrique Peña Nieto, however, told CNN last year that he would not be supporting the legalization of marijuana, but he would build up programs to prevent marijuana and other drug use as well as gang involvement.