For a nation stricken by each a popularity and an affinity for cocaine, Colombia has taken the daring step of legalizing and regulating medical marijuana. President Juan Manuel Santos signed a decree and introduced on nationwide tv that Colombians can now legally develop, course of, import and export hashish “for medical and scientific use”, AFP reported.
“This decree permits licenses to be granted for the possession of seeds, hashish crops, and marijuana,” he stated from the presidential palace. “It locations Colombia within the group of nations which are on the forefront… in using pure assets to battle illness.”
Colombia’s authorities has lengthy been an in depth ally of america in preventing worldwide drug trafficking, utilizing its army and billions of dollars in US funding to attempt to shed its title because the world’s largest cocaine producer. Nevertheless it has proven indicators of easing its hard-line stance in current months. Just lately Colombia has additionally determined to cease aerially spraying the herbicide glyphosate on fields of coca, the uncooked ingredient for cocaine. The World Well being Group warned in April that the chemical, bought by US biotech firm Monsanto beneath the model identify Roundup, is “in all probability carcinogenic.”
Nevertheless, Santos additionally introduced this yr that Colombia would give land to farmers who cease rising coca.
Medical marijuana had beforehand fallen right into a authorized grey space in Colombia
It was approved beneath a 1986 regulation, however the lack of regulation prevented manufacturing on a nationwide degree. “The manufacture, export, sale, and medical and scientific use of this and different substances have been permitted for a number of many years in Colombia. Nevertheless, they have been by no means regulated. That’s what we’re doing right now,” Santos stated.
Beneath the decree, growers will apply for licenses from the Nationwide Narcotics Council whereas these looking for to fabricate cannabis-based medicine will apply for permits from the well being ministry. The well being ministry will even grant permits to export such medicine to nations the place they’re authorized. “Our objective is for sufferers to have the ability to entry drugs made in Colombia which are protected, high-quality and accessible. Additionally it is a chance to advertise scientific analysis in our nation,” Santos stated.
The push to legalize marijuana seems to be gaining momentum in Latin America, for each medical and leisure use. Uruguay legalized the manufacturing, sale and use of marijuana in 2013, Chile’s Congress is debating a invoice to legalize pot, and Mexico will open a “nationwide debate” in January on overhauling its prohibitionist marijuana legal guidelines. Colombia decriminalized possession of as much as 20 grams of marijuana in 2012, and it’s authorized to develop as much as 20 hashish crops within the nation. However consuming it in public and promoting it’s unlawful. Medical marijuana is already utilized in Colombia on a small scale. For instance, some epileptics use hashish extract to regulate their seizures.
What concerning the conflict on medicine?
However well being professionals and pharmaceutical corporations say the brand new decree will make it a lot simpler to purchase, promote and manufacture such medicine.
Unlawful medicine have given rise to horrific violence by drug cartels in Colombia and have fueled a five-decade battle between leftist guerrillas and the Colombian authorities that has killed greater than 220,000 individuals. The nation has acquired $9 billion in US funding since 1999 underneath “Plan Colombia,” a army and financial cooperation program aimed toward combating drug trafficking.
Columbia nonetheless stays a prime producer of unlawful medicine, notably cocaine. Colombia’s cocaine manufacturing surged by 52 % final yr, to 442 tons, in accordance with the United Nations.
Right here is the map of the place medical marijuana is authorized – and the place it is not. The darkest shade of blue = its utterly authorized
Article By: (WeedNewsGlobal.com)
