Bill Decriminalizing the Sale of Cannabis in Colombia Rejected
The bill would have expanded cannabis legalization already in place in the country.
On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, the Colombian Senate voted to reject a constitutional reform bill that would have legalized the sale of recreational cannabis in the country (1). Since 1986 the possession of up to 20 grams and of growing up to 20 plants for personal use has been legal, and in 2016 some cannabis products have been legal for medical sale and uses (1,2).
Opponents of the bill said its defeat protects children and families, while supporters said the bill would protect consumers from interacting with criminals (3). The bill would have banned the sale and consumption of cannabis in some public areas, including universities, and promoted substance abuse treatment (2).
“I don’t consider this a defeat; we have taken a giant step, four years of putting such a controversial issue at the top of the public agenda, of the public debate,” Liberal Party Senator Juan Carlos Losada said (1).
Approval of the bill fell short by seven votes, and Losada stated that the bill would be introduced again in the next legislative session (1).
“Continuing to leave a substance that is legal in the hands of the drug traffickers and drug dealers is detrimental to the children of Colombia and detrimental to the country’s democracy,” he added (1).
Uruguay is currently the only Latin American country that allows the sale of recreational cannabis (1).
References
- Colombia’s Senate rejects bill to legalize sale of recreational cannabis https://www.laprensalatina.com/colombias-senate-rejects-bill-to-legalize-sale-of-recreational-cannabis/ (accessed Jun 28, 2023).
- Zdinjak, N. It’s final: Colombian Senate rejects Bill to legalize recreational marijuana https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/06/32946719/its-final-colombian-senate-rejects-bill-to-legalize-recreational-marijuana (accessed Jun 28, 2023).
- Person. Colombia Senate votes down recreational marijuana bill https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombia-senate-votes-down-recreational-marijuana-bill-2023-06-21/ (accessed Jun 28, 2023).
Medical Cannabis Campaigning with Americans for Safe Access
September 4th 2024As discussions about the federal scheduling of cannabis continue, efforts by medical cannabis advocates are intensifying. One such advocate is Americans for Safe Access (ASA), a nonprofit organization founded by patients for patients. Since 2002, ASA has been championing the rights of medical cannabis patients and has recently launched new campaigns and strategies to refocus attention on patient needs. In this interview, Steph Sherer, founder and president of ASA, reflects on past successes in medical cannabis advocacy, shares her perspective on recent cannabis and hemp policymaking, and outlines the next steps for advancing a unified medical cannabis message on Capitol Hill—a message that could bring about the changes patients have long awaited.
