Colombia: Senate Committee approves legalization of cannabis

The plan to legalize cannabis in Colombia passed through the Senate's first committee on November 25. The text was approved by 11 votes to 3.

The initiative establishes a new regulatory framework for the adult use of cannabis, In particular, to take control of this illicit trade out of the hands of the mafias operating in the country.

«This project takes the pulse of history. It's not a temporary project. It's a time for Colombia to break the backbone of the curse of drug trafficking that has destroyed everything. I'm also glad it has the imprint of LSD thinking [editor's note: Liberales Sociales Demócratas]. The Social Liberal Democrats are convinced that Colombia will change its history if we succeed in eradicating drug trafficking at its roots,» said Senator Roy Barreras, co-author of the proposal.

Barreras a insisted on the fact that «prohibition is a crime. Legalization, decriminalization and regulation are an economic solution, and this curse of drug trafficking cannot be solved with moral positions, but with economic solutions».

For his part, Senator Gustavo Bolívar stressed that this was a «historic day for Colombia» and that he was already preparing to take the debate to the plenary session.

«If the government, if the government bench authorized the regulation of cannabis, I assure you that in five years we would regulate cocaine and we would put an end to the trade that has been transversal to all our violence over the last 30 or 40 years. Cocaine and cannabis have been used to finance guerrilla groups, paramilitaries, to finance the Bacrim that are hitting Colombia's territories,» declared Bolívar.

Cannabis legalization bill rejected by House of Representatives

On November 4, the Chamber of Representatives, the lower house of the Colombian Congress, attempted to approve the regulation of cannabis for adult and industrial use in Colombia, but failed to muster a majority with 102 votes against and 52 in favor. Opponents of legalization pointed in particular to the protection of children and the physical damage caused by cannabis.

It remains to be seen whether the Senate will succeed in legalizing cannabis in Colombia.