By On May 8, the Colombian House of Representatives passed a cannabis legalization bill. In the sixth of eight deliberations, the bill passed by a majority of 98-57.Legislative act in Colombia 8 debates requiredand in a recent discussion, 95 votes needed to move forward.
Congressman Juan Carlos Losada Vargas, who also proposed the bill, shared the news on Twitter on May 9. Today @CamaraColombia shows that we are a country that wants to transform its failed prohibitionist drug policy into one based on prevention and public health. ” Vargas wrote on Twitter:.
The bill would create a regulatory framework for legal cannabis for both adult and scientific purposes. “The purpose of this draft legislation is to allow for the normalization of cannabis use by adults and harmonization of current regulations on cannabis use for scientific purposes, so long as established requirements are met.” Translated excerpt The state of the bill text. “The above seeks to unify the constitutional, legal, and jurisprudence references on this issue in order to recognize and guarantee the fundamental right to equality and the free development of the person, and to use illegal cannabis trafficking as a tactic to reduce violence. It proposes a different strategy to combat the ‘country’. ”
The bill also supports the creation of public education campaigns and substance abuse programs.
Vargas released Editorial article In late March and April, we discussed the history of cannabis efforts in Colombia and how good regulation can save lives. “Five years ago, when we first brought the cannabis debate to Congress, we were absolutely convinced that it would be virtually impossible to pass this type of bill in a conservative-majority legislature. But with certain defeat, we always had the certainty that someday, sooner or later, our project would definitely come to fruition.” Vargas wrote March. “Oh, it seems that day has come.”
of April, the House debated cannabis five times. “Passing five debates means that this Congress, supported by the will of millions of Colombians who voted, abandoned the failed prohibition paradigm and opened the door to a new drug policy. It demonstrates its readiness to take steps towards “following policies based on guidelines for public health, prevention of consumption and protection of citizens’ rights. ” Vargas wrote in April:. “We’re just a few steps away from writing new history in the fight against drugs, but at this point it’s a matter of political will. Every vote is decisive.”
The bill will now move to the Senate for consideration in its final two rounds. If approved, it will be sent to Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
In the past, the Petro has confirmed its support and interest in ending the war on drugs. Last year he explained how he would try to help the Colombian people live in peace. In November, Petro met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to discuss “geopolitical, commercial, cultural and development cooperation.” In a joint statement, they announced their goals for change. “Recognizing the failure of the war on drugs and the vulnerability of our people in the face of this problem, Mexico and Colombia convene an international conference of Latin American leaders aimed at redesigning and rethinking their drug policies,” the presidents said. said in a statement. statement.
