{"id":58999,"date":"2022-12-06T11:15:59","date_gmt":"2022-12-06T19:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/12\/06\/colombian-senate-approves-marijuana-legalization-bill-bringing-country-closer-to-ending-prohibition\/"},"modified":"2022-12-06T17:45:45","modified_gmt":"2022-12-07T01:45:45","slug":"colombian-senate-approves-marijuana-legalization-bill-bringing-country-closer-to-ending-prohibition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/12\/06\/colombian-senate-approves-marijuana-legalization-bill-bringing-country-closer-to-ending-prohibition\/","title":{"rendered":"Colombian Senate Approves Marijuana Legalization Bill, Bringing Country Closer To Ending Prohibition"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

The Colombian Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill to legalize marijuana nationwide, though there are still more legislative steps that need to be taken before it\u2019s potentially enacted into law.<\/p>\n

The bill, which has also already received initial approval in the country\u2019s Chamber of Representatives, was approved on the Senate floor during the fourth round of debate on Tuesday in a 56-3 vote.<\/p>\n

\n

#PlenariaSenado<\/a> | \"📃\"\"✅\" | Ha sido APROBADO en su totalidad el Proyecto de Acto Legislativo 033 de 2022 Senado, que busca modificar el art\u00edculo 49 de la Constituci\u00f3n Pol\u00edtica de Colombia y regularizar el #Cannabis<\/a> de uso adulto.<\/p>\n

Votos:
\"✅\" Si: 56
\"❌\" No: 3#EsHoraDeRegular<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/nBEYYlWm9T<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Senado de la Rep\u00fablica \"🇨🇴\" (@SenadoGovCo) December 6, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Lawmakers have met several times in recent weeks to debate the reform proposal, which would amend the country\u2019s Constitution to end cannabis prohibition for adults.<\/p>\n

This action took place about two weeks after the legalization bill passed the First Committee of the Senate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Hist\u00f3rica aprobaci\u00f3n en plenaria del proyecto para regularizar el #CannabisDeUsoAdulto<\/a> en su cuarto debate. Avanzamos en el cambio de la pol\u00edtica de drogas del pa\u00eds.<\/p>\n

Gran equipo con @JuanKarloslos<\/a> \"✊🏼\"\"💜\" #EsHoraDeRegular<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vQYcBtpnz5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mar\u00eda Jos\u00e9 Pizarro Rodr\u00edguez (@PizarroMariaJo) December 6, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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At\u00a0a public hearing in the Senate panel last month<\/a>, Justice Minister N\u00e9stor Osuna said that Colombia has been the victim of \u201ca failed war that was designed 50 years ago and, due to absurd prohibitionism, has brought us a lot of blood, armed conflict, mafias and crime.\u201d<\/p>\n

The proposed constitutional amendment, sponsored by Rep. Juan Carlos Losada, contemplates the public health and economic impacts of legalization, as well as the ideological principle of individual autonomy. If enacted, officials would have six months to promulgate rules for the adult-use market.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a1Historico! Por primera vez el proyecto que regula el #CannabisDeUsoAdulto<\/a> alcanza el cuarto de sus ocho debates.<\/p>\n

Colombia avanza en una pol\u00edtica de drogas basada en enfoque de prevenci\u00f3n, respetuosa de las libertades y que genere oportunidades econ\u00f3micas.<\/p>\n

#HoraDeRegular<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Po7rMS750X<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Juan Carlos Losada (@JuanKarloslos) December 6, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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A supplementary legislative analysis provides background on the history of cannabis policy in Colombia, while also describing reform developments in other countries such as Mexico and the United States.<\/p>\n

The legalization\u00a0bill<\/a>\u00a0would support \u201cthe right of the free development of the personality, allowing citizens to decide on the consumption of cannabis in a regulated legal framework,\u201d it says. And it would mitigate \u201carbitrary discriminatory or unequal treatment in front of the population that consumes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

The bill will restrict possession and public consumption at schools and certain public spaces. It also calls for public education campaigns and the promotion of substance misuse treatment services.<\/p>\n

The Colombian Chamber of Representatives\u00a0gave initial approval to a legalization bill<\/a> in October. In addition to Osuna, the head of the Interior Ministry also spoke in favor of the reform proposal at the time. That vote came shortly after a congressional committee advanced this measure and a separate legalization bill<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As a proposed constitutional amendment, the legislation needs to undergo eight debates in total, separated over two separate calendar years.<\/p>\n

\n

El tabaco y el alcohol son sustancias legales que causan m\u00e1s da\u00f1o que el cannabis.
\u2022 En Colombia fallecen m\u00e1s de 20 mil personas al a\u00f1o por enfermedades atribuibles al tabaquismo.
\u2022 1 de cada 20 muertes en el mundo est\u00e1 relacionada con el consumo de alcohol. #EsHoraDeRegular<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/i25zYhMLMu<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mar\u00eda Jos\u00e9 Pizarro Rodr\u00edguez (@PizarroMariaJo) December 6, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

The justice minister also\u00a0discussed\u00a0legislative legalization efforts at an\u00a0event focused on cannabis reform last month, emphasizing the need to enact a policy change the promotes economic growth and public health.<\/p>\n

As lawmakers move to approve the reform bill, Osuna said that government agencies will be working to facilitate a \u201cfaster, less difficult\u201d licensure process.<\/p>\n

President Gustavo Petro, a progressive who has been strongly advocating for an international end to drug criminalization since being inaugurated in August, has discussed the possible benefits of cannabis legalization.<\/p>\n

\n

\"🚨\"Despu\u00e9s de tres debates a favor, hoy es la prueba de fuego para que nuestro proyecto que regula el #CannabisDeUsoAdulto<\/a> avance y sea aprobado en 4to debate en Plenaria @SenadoGovCo<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Inicia transmisi\u00f3n, con\u00e9ctate en vivo \"👉🏼\"https:\/\/t.co\/6CwaskJx4m<\/a>#EsHoraDeRegular<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/DdsteNXhCx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Juan Carlos Losada (@JuanKarloslos) December 6, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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In September, the president\u00a0delivered a speech at a meeting of the United Nations (UN)<\/a>, urging member nations to fundamentally change their approaches to drug policy and disband with prohibition.<\/p>\n

Petro also recently talked about\u00a0the prospects of legalizing marijuana in Colombia<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0as one means of reducing the influence of the illicit market.\u00a0And he signaled that the policy change should be followed by releasing people who are currently in prison over cannabis.<\/p>\n

He spoke about the economic potential of a legal cannabis industry, one where small towns in places like the Andes, Corinto and Miranda could stand to benefit from legal marijuana cultivation, possibly without any licensing requirements.<\/p>\n

The president also signaled that he\u2019d be interested in exploring the idea of \u200b\u200bexporting cannabis to other countries where the plant is legal.<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), who chairs the House Rules Committee,\u00a0cheered the official swearing in of Petro<\/a>\u00a0, saying that he looks forward to \u201cworking together to\u2026rethink drug policy, and much more.\u201d<\/p>\n

President Joe Biden, on the other hand, seems intent on perpetuating the drug war in Colombia, with U.S. military support. He released a memorandum<\/a>\u00a0to the defense secretary in August that authorizes the \u201cinterdiction of aircraft reasonably suspected to be primarily engaged in illicit drug trafficking in that country\u2019s airspace.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said that it\u2019s \u201cnecessary because of the extraordinary threat posed by illicit drug trafficking to the national security of that country\u201d and because \u201cColombia has appropriate procedures in place to protect against innocent loss of life in the air and on the ground in connection with such interdiction, which includes effective means to identify and warn an aircraft before the use of force is directed against the aircraft.\u201d<\/p>\n

Petro also met with the president of Mexico last month, and the pair announced that they will be bringing together other Latin American leaders for an international conference focused on on \u201credesigning and rethinking drug policy\u201d<\/a> given the \u201cfailure\u201d of prohibition. Mexican lawmakers are also pursuing national legalization.<\/p>\n

\u2014
\nMarijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nLearn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
\n\u2014<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said<\/a> in a joint appearance with Petro in October that the U.S. generally backs his \u201cholistic approach\u201d to drugs. The Colombian president, for his part, said that countries need to \u201cview the war on drugs differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a former member of Colombia\u2019s M-19 guerrilla group, Petro has seen the violent conflict between guerrilla fighters, narcoparamilitary groups and drug cartels that has been exacerbated by the government\u2019s aggressive approach to drug enforcement.<\/p>\n

According to the United Nations Office of Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Colombia remains a chief exporter of cocaine,\u00a0\u00a0despite\u00a0\u00a0\u201cdrug supply reduction activities in Colombia, such as eradication of coca bush and destruction of laboratories.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2020, Colombian legislators introduced a bill that would have regulated coca, the plant that is processed to produce cocaine, in an acknowledgment that the government\u2019s decades-long fight against the drug and its procedures have consistently failed.\u00a0That legislation cleared a committee, but it was ultimately shelved by the overall conservative legislature.<\/p>\n

Advocates are optimistic that such a proposal could advance under the Petro administration. The president hasn\u2019t taken a clear stance on the legislation itself, but he campaigned on legalizing marijuana and promoted the idea of \u200b\u200bcannabis as an alternative to cocaine.<\/p>\n

Former Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos has also been critical of the drug war and embraced reform. In an editorial published before he left office, he criticized the United Nations and U.S. President Richard Nixon for their role in setting a drug war standard that has proven ineffective at best and counterproductive at worst.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is time we talk about responsible government regulation, look for ways to cut off the drug mafias\u2019 air supply, and tackle the problems of drug use with greater resources for prevention, care and harm reduction with regard to public health and the social fabric,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis reflection must be global in scope in order to be effective,\u201d Santos, who is a member of the pro-reform Global Commission on Drug Policy, said.\u00a0\u201cIt must also be broad, including participation not only of governments but also of academia and civil society.\u00a0It must reach beyond law enforcement and judicial authorities and involve experts in public health, economists and educators, among other disciplines.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a U.S. congressional delegation\u00a0returned from a visit to Colombia<\/a> in October, and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who was part of the trip, told Marijuana Moment that one theme of his discussions with officials in the country was that the world has \u201clost the war on drugs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

McConnell Blasts Democrats Over Plans To Add Marijuana Banking To Defense Bill<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Image element courtesy of Bryan Pocius<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post Colombian Senate Approves Marijuana Legalization Bill, Bringing Country Closer To Ending Prohibition<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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The Colombian Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill to legalize marijuana nationwide, though there are still more legislative steps that need to be taken before it\u2019s potentially enacted into law. The bill, which has also already received initial approval in the country\u2019s Chamber of Representatives, was approved on the SenateContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":59000,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[81,126],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58999"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58999"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58999\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59001,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58999\/revisions\/59001"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59000"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}