Congress debates the legalization of cannabis for adult use

The project to regulate adult use of cannabis has returned to Congress in Colombia. Just as it happened seven months ago, within the Senate, the document was archived and will now be subjected to eight debates to determine whether the document will be approved or not.

The proposal aims to eliminate the prohibition of possession, consumption, and commercialization of cannabis and its derivatives for those over 18 years old, as stated in Article 49 of the Constitution. Additionally, the text establishes the prohibition of consumption and sale in school environments.

In the previous vote, in December 2023, the Senate archived the proposal with 46 votes in favor and 40 against. Apparently, several lawmakers who were expected to vote in favor of the project ended up voting for its archiving. The justification was the repeal of the decree that allowed the police to confiscate minimal doses of marijuana in public areas.

President's Support

A few days before the project was archived, the President of Colombia, Petro Urrego, through his social media, emphasized the need for the legalization of cannabis to financially destabilize the EMC (Central High Command) of Cauca.

Comprising about 3,500 members, according to the latest official data, the EMC is considered the