By On June 20, the Colombian Senate formally rejected a bill allowing recreational cannabis sales. The bill failed to pass by a vote of 43 to 47, missing the 54 votes needed to pass the eight and final round of deliberations.
According to Senator Juan Carlos Losada, the progress seen in the bill is not the end of the debate on legalizing adult use. “I don’t see this as a defeat. said. “Leaving legal substances in the hands of drug traffickers and drug traffickers is harmful to Colombia’s children and harmful to the country’s democracy.”
report from La Prensa Latina The Eighth Debate initially began on June 15, but Alexander Lopez was forced to speak out due to a “verbal confrontation” between Senator Inti Aspririlla (supporter of the bill) and Jota Pe Hernandez (opponent of the bill). The president of the Senate said it had stopped deliberations. Debate resumed again on June 19, but the vote was again postponed due to a lack of senator attendance. A vote was then taken on June 20, just before parliament closed.
Former President Alvaro Uribe dies Legislation 2009 (No. 2), Changed Article 49 of the Constitution. “Drugs, Alcohol and Illegal Substances” stipulates that “the possession and consumption of narcotic and psychotropic substances is prohibited, except as prescribed by a doctor.”
Since the passage of this constitutional amendment, there have been numerous attempts to expand access to cannabis and pass legalization. To amend the Constitution of Colombia, The bill must pass in four debates in the Senate and four debates in the House. The bill will then be sent to the president’s desk.
But since the cannabis legalization bill didn’t pass the debate, lawmakers will need to: Start over on next attempt. This is the first time a cannabis legalization effort has reached the 8th Council.
Supporters of legalization expressed excitement as the possibility of legalization increased. In May, the House passed the bill on its sixth iteration. Losada tweeted about the event. “#HISTÓRICO approved the #CannabisDeUsoAdulto project with 98 votes at the 6th debate. It shows that it is a country that wants to be,” Rassada wrote.
Earlier this month, on June 6, the Senate passed the bill for its seventh consideration.
After the bill was defeated at the eighth debate, Losada wrote on Twitter that the work was not done yet. “It’s sad, but I’m sure we gave it our all in the end. We didn’t think we’d go that far,” he said. “Today he has a majority but he was seven votes short. We are in this fight he has been working for four years and he will not give up to make history in the fight against drugs. .thank you! “
Other supporters, such as Senator María José Pizarro, are also optimistic. “We will continue to staunchly defend the regulation of the convicted #CannabisDeUsoAdulto because communities in our country have another opportunity for violence and legitimate employment. We are leading the #EsHoraDe Regular so that children and young people are not at the mercy of the Colombian Mafia and Jíbalo.Thank you @JuanKarloslos!” Pizzaro wrote on Twitter:.
In 2016, Colombia legalized the production, sale and export of medical cannabis. In July 2021, former Colombian President Ivan Duque approved efforts to legalize the sale and export of dried cannabis flowers worldwide.
