Colombian legalization of adult-use hashish is on observe, following the Chamber of Representatives’ overwhelming vote of assist for a bill launched by a multiparty group led by Liberal Social gathering deputy Juan Carlos Losada.
Again in June we held out some cautious optimism relating to Colombian legalization prospects, following the election of Gustavo Petro as president. As we famous in Petro: Colombia’s Subsequent President and Hashish, the time appeared “ripe for daring strikes that might agency up Colombia’s function because the chief of the Latin American hashish trade.”
Latest occasions counsel that our hopes have been well-placed. Whereas the invoice isn’t President Petro’s initiative, the elections that introduced him to energy additionally made the Colombian legislature extra cannabis-friendly (the Liberals are members of President Petro’s legislative coalition). Furthermore, the invoice has been favorably obtained throughout the Govt, with two cupboard ministers talking in support previous to the Chamber of Representatives’ vote. Not way back, President Petro himself decried the “irrational battle on medicine” throughout his tackle to the United Nations Basic Meeting.
The vote is much more significant which may appear at first look. Within the final 5 years, the Colombian Congress has voted on a number of legalization hashish initiatives, however that is the primary time {that a} proposal clears a plenary vote.
There’s nonetheless a protracted street forward earlier than the invoice can turn into regulation. Because the measure requires adjustments to Colombian Structure (Article 49 of which at present prohibits using narcotic or psychotropic substances), it should clear a minimum of eight legislative votes in whole. However with the federal government having fun with a majority within the Senate (because it does within the Chamber of Representatives), it’s anticipated that the invoice will ultimately discover its solution to President Petro’s desk, with all indications being that he would signal it.
For now, is there a Colombian equal of C-SPAN?