Senators in Colombia have gathered many occasions over the previous few weeks to debate a hashish legalization modification to the structure. On Dec. 6, the modification was handed in a 56-3 vote.

“Historic plenary approval of the challenge to regularize #CannabisDeUsoAdulto in its fourth debate. We made progress in altering the nation’s drug coverage. Nice group with @JuanKarloslos #EsHoraDeRegular,” Sen. María José Pizarro Rodríguez wrote in a translated Twitter submit.

On that very same day, she additionally talked about how the tobacco and alcohol industries are extra dangerous than hashish, sharing that greater than 20,000 individuals die annually to smoking-related illnesses, and 1 in 20 deaths are associated to alcohol consumption.

Rodríguez labored with Chamber Rep. Juan Carlos Losada, the sponsor of the invoice, to push reform. “In the present day is a HISTORIC day. With the management of @PizarroMariaJo and a @SenadoGovCo extra progressive and liberal we achieved approval within the 4th debate of the challenge that regulates #CannabisDeUsoAdulto. An enormous step to advance a brand new drug coverage,” Losada wrote.

If handed, the invoice would amend Article 49 and provide “the proper of the free growth of the persona, permitting residents to resolve on the consumption of hashish in a regulated authorized framework.” In legalizing hashish the modification would additionally set up rules and taxes for authorized hashish gross sales, and set up methods to divide income between native cities, in addition to well being, training, and agriculture departments. It additionally requires a ban of hashish in colleges and public areas and would set up a public training marketing campaign.

The invoice moved on to the Senate after the First Fee of the Home of Representatives handed it on Oct. 11 with a 105-33 vote.

In Colombia, constitutional amendments should be mentioned in a complete of eight discussions over the course of two years. The newest Senate approval marked the fourth dialogue. As soon as the entire discussions have been held, it could actually proceed to Colombia President Gustavo Petro for evaluation. Lastly, if signed into legislation it provides state legislators six months to determine adult-use rules.

Though Petro hasn’t confirmed that he would signal such an modification, he has regularly supported ending criminalization of medicine since he was inaugurated in August 2022. 

In September, Petro spoke to the United Nations about how the Battle on Medication has failed. “I suggest to you as President of probably the most lovely nations on Earth, and probably the most bloodstained and violent, to finish the Battle on Medication, and thus permit our individuals to stay in peace,” Petro stated in his inauguration speech. “The Battle on Medication has lasted 40 years. If we don’t right the course, and this continues one other 40 years, the USA will see 2.8 million die of overdoses, which isn’t produced in our Latin America. You will note hundreds of thousands of African Individuals be imprisoned of their non-public prisons. The prisoner will turn into a enterprise of jail corporations.”

On Nov. 25, Petro met with the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. “If I needed to summarize the connection between our peoples and the federal government of Colombian President Gustavo Petro in a single phrase, I’d say: brotherhood,” Obrador stated in a Twitter assertion.

Collectively, each Obrador and Petro introduced a joint effort to create a world convention that addresses methods to rethink drug coverage. “Recognizing the failure of the combat in opposition to medication and the vulnerability of our peoples within the face of this drawback, Mexico and Colombia will convene an Worldwide Convention of Latin American leaders with the target of redesigning and rethinking drug coverage,” each nations stated in a joint assertion.

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