Colombia — Cannabis Legalization Heads to a Final Vote

The bill aiming to legalize cannabis in Colombia was approved during the penultimate vote in the Senate on Tuesday, bringing the country closer to the end of prohibition.

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Senate Committee Approves Cannabis Legalization in Colombia

The bill to legalize cannabis in Colombia, proposed by Congressman Juan Carlos Losada Vargas and approved by the House of Representatives last month, was approved by the Senate’s first committee with 15 votes in favor and 4 against.

This marks the seventh out of eight votes needed for the constitutional amendment proposal to be sent to the president.

Upcoming Senate Vote and Legislative Timeline

The next and final step is the Senate vote, which is expected to take place on June 16. If the bill is passed, lawmakers in Colombia will have less than a week to proceed with bicameral reconciliation before the end of the session.

Key Points of the Cannabis Legalization Bill in Colombia

The legalization bill supports “the right to the free development of personality, allowing citizens to decide on cannabis consumption within a regulated legal framework” in Colombia. It also addresses “arbitrary, discriminatory, or unequal treatment faced by the consuming population.”

Additionally, it calls for public education campaigns and the promotion of addiction treatment services.

Last year, the House of Representatives gave initial approval to the legalization bill for Colombia. The Minister of the Interior also voiced support for the reform proposal at the time. This vote came shortly after a Congressional committee advanced this measure and another legalization bill.

President Petro’s Advocacy for Drug Policy Reform

President Gustavo Petro, a progressive who has vigorously advocated for an end to drug criminalization not just in Colombia but also internationally since taking office in August, has discussed the potential benefits of cannabis legalization.

Last year, the president delivered a speech at a United Nations (UN) meeting, urging member countries to radically change their approach to drug policy and end prohibition.

Mr. Petro also mentioned the possibility of legalizing cannabis in Colombia to reduce the influence of the illicit market. He also indicated that this policy change should be followed by the release of individuals currently imprisoned for cannabis possession.

He highlighted the economic potential of a legal cannabis industry, in which small towns in the Andes, such as Corinto and Miranda, could benefit from legal cannabis cultivation in Colombia, possibly without the need for a license.

International Cannabis Collaboration for Colombia

The president also expressed interest in the idea of exporting cannabis from Colombia to other countries where the plant is legal.

Mr. Petro met with the president of Mexico last year, and the two men announced that they would gather other Latin American leaders for an international conference aimed at “redefining and rethinking drug policy” in light of the “failure” of prohibition. Mexican lawmakers, like those in Colombia, are also seeking to legalize the drug at the national level.

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(Featured illustration by Leon Hernandez (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr)

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