By Colombian senators have met several times over the past few weeks to discuss amendments to legalize cannabis in the constitution.upon December 6ththe amendment was passed by a vote of 56 to 3.
“Historic plenary approval to normalize the project #CannabisDeUsoAdulto At the fourth discussion. We have made progress in changing the country’s drug policy.great team with @Juan Karloslos #EsHoraDeRegular,” Senator Maria Jose Pizarro Rodriguez wrote in a translated Twitter post.
On the same day, she also Tobacco and alcohol industries are more harmful More than 20,000 people die each year from smoking-related illnesses, sharing that 1 in 20 deaths are linked to alcohol consumption.
Rodriguez worked with Congressman Juan Carlos Lozada, the originator of the bill, to push for reform. “Today is a historic day. @PizarroMariaJo and @SenadoGovCo More progressive and liberal, we won approval at the 4th round of debate on the project to regulate #CannabisDeUsoAdultoIt’s a big step forward for a new drug policy. ” Losada wrote.
If passed, the bill would amend Article 49 to provide “the right to free development of the personality so that citizens can make decisions about their cannabis consumption within a regulated legal framework.” By legalizing cannabis, the amendment would establish regulations and taxes on legal cannabis sales and organize how revenues would be split between local cities, health, education and agriculture sectors. We will also call for a ban on cannabis in schools and public spaces and establish public education campaigns.
The bill moved to the Senate after the House’s First Committee passed it on October 11 by a vote of 105 to 33.
In Colombia, constitutional amendments must be debated in a total of eight sessions over two years. The most recent Senate confirmation marked the fourth debate. Once all the discussions are done, you can ask Colombian President Gustavo Petro for review. Finally, if the law is signed, state legislators will be given six months to enact adult-oriented regulations.
Petro has not confirmed that it will sign such an amendment, but has continuously supported ending the criminalization of drugs since taking office in August 2022.
September, Peter spoke to the United Nations About how the war on drugs failed. In his inaugural address, Petro said, “As president of one of the most beautiful and bloodiest and most violent nations on earth, I propose to end the war on drugs and allow our people to live in peace.” “The war on drugs has lasted 40 years. If we don’t correct the trajectory, 40 more years of this will result in 2.8 million overdose deaths in the United States. It won’t happen in Latin America.We will see millions of African Americans incarcerated in private prisons.The prisoners will be the business of the prison companies.”
November 25th, Peter meeting with the President of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. “If I had to sum up the relationship between our people and the government of President Gustavo Petro of Colombia in one word, it would be brotherhood.” Obrador said in a Twitter statement.
Together, Obrador and Petro have announced a joint effort to create an international conference on how to rethink drug policy. “Recognizing the failure of the war on drugs and the vulnerability of our peoples in the face of this problem, Mexico and Colombia convened an international conference of Latin American leaders with the aim of redesigning and rethinking their drug policies. We will convene,” the two countries said in a statement. Joint statement.
