Chile opens dialogue on cannabis legalization

Chilean Congresswomen Marcela Riquelme and Ana María Gazmuri met with National Prosecutor Ángel Valencia and Ignacio Castillo, director of the unit specializing in the fight against organized crime, with the aim of establishing a constructive dialogue on cannabis, both medical and recreational.

Congresswoman Gazmuri shared a tweet in which she stated that the meeting focused on the challenges that will arise from the implementation of the anti-drug law, particularly the new provisions of Law 20,000, which authorizes the medical cultivation of cannabis.

https://twitter.com/AnaMariaGazmuri/status/1665109948609576961

For his part, the national prosecutor expressed his commitment, according to La Maria Juana: «I have a responsibility to enforce the law properly and to give prosecutors the means to prosecute the most serious crimes. To that end, the prosecutor’s office will issue a general directive to update prosecutors» investigative guidelines in cases related to drug trafficking, establishing a clear distinction between personal use and medical use, particularly in light of the new law that has been enacted.”

Chile Listens to Cannabis Users

According to ElPlanteo, This breakthrough marks the end of years of struggle by both civil society and Congress. A regulatory amendment to Law 20,000 has been enacted to benefit cannabis users—a significant step, according to cannabis advocates, toward preventing the unjust persecution of patients and cannabis users.

The launch of a dialogue on cannabis between members of Congress, the national prosecutor, and the unit specializing in the fight against organized crime is a crucial step toward establishing a more inclusive and equitable legal framework for Chile’s cannabis community. This meeting could serve as the starting point for future collaborations and policies that will benefit patients who need cannabis for medical purposes and adult recreational users.