An official from the administration of Bogota has asked Colombia’s national government to initiate debate upon the regulation of marijuana.
“We really need leadership from the Congress and the government to regulate the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana,” said the General Secretary of the Mayor of Bogotá, Susana Muhamad.
Since 1994, marijuana has been legal in small amounts up to 22 grams for personal consumption. However sale and cultivation remains illegal in Colombia.
“The second request to the government is that if we are serious in Colombia progress on this issue holistically, is to decriminalize personal drug use and to regulate the medicinal and recreational use and for other side not to criminalize the use of other drugs, ” said Muhamad.
| “Regulation is a peaceful way to change the direction of the war on drugs. Prisons are places where rehabilitation and reinforce criminal careers.” |
Regulation Summit
Bogota hosted a three day summit discussing decriminalization this week, El Espectador newspaper reported.
Raquel Peyraube, a consultant for the National Drugs Council of Uruguay was among the summit’s participants. Uruguay is a country that recently legalized recreational and medicinal use of cannabis .
Peyraube stated “Regulation is a peaceful way to change the direction of the war on drugs. Prisons are places where rehabilitation and reinforce criminal careers.”
FARC want marijuana decriminalized
In January the FARC, Colombia’s largest guerrilla group, released a proposal to decriminalize the production of coca, poppy and marijuana.
MORE:FARC peace proposal aims to protect coca, poppy, and marijuana growers
The latest round of peace talks between the armed group and the government discuss drug cultivation. In recent years, the FARC have been accused of cultivating marijuana in order to fund their militant activities.
Sources
- Distrito, a favor del uso medicinal y recreativo de la marihuana (El Espectador)
