Legalization of cannabis in Colombia on the verge of a vote

The bill 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.

The bill introduced by Representative Juan Carlos Losada Vargas, approved by the House of Representatives last month, was approved by the Senate's First Committee by a vote of 15 to 4. This is the seventh of the eight votes needed for the proposed constitutional amendment to be sent to the president.

The next and final step is the Senate vote, which is scheduled for June 16. If the bill passes, lawmakers will have less than a week to complete the bicameral reconciliation process before the end of the session.

The legalization bill supports «the right to the free development of the individual, by allowing citizens to decide whether to use cannabis within a regulated legal framework.» It also mitigates «arbitrary, discriminatory, or unequal treatment of people who use cannabis.».

It also calls for public education campaigns and the promotion of substance abuse treatment services.

Last year, the House of Representatives gave its initial approval to the legalization proposal. The Minister of the Interior also spoke out in favor of the reform proposal at the time. This vote took place shortly after a congressional committee pushed this measure forward, along with another bill on legalization.

President Gustavo Petro, a progressive who, since his inauguration in August, has been a strong advocate for ending the international criminalization of drugs, discussed the potential benefits of legalizing cannabis.

Last year, the The president gave 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 raised the possibility of legalizing cannabis in Colombia in order to reduce the influence of the illicit market. He also noted that this policy change should be followed by the release of individuals currently imprisoned for cannabis possession.

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

The president also said he would be interested in the idea of exporting cannabis 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 bring together other Latin American leaders for an international conference aimed at «redefining and rethinking drug policy,» given the «failure» of prohibition. Mexican lawmakers are also seeking to legalize drugs at the national level.