Paraguay discusses regulation of medical, industrial and recreational cannabis: are changes afoot?

Last week, the Senate debated the’The Future of Cannabis in Paraguay. Political leaders, summoned by the Commission for the Prevention and Control of Drug Trafficking and Related Crimes, chaired by Senator Sergio Rojas, gathered to discuss the plant's potential medical, industrial, and recreational uses.

Speakers from various fields took the floor to explain the various uses of cannabis and to call for An End to the Demonization of the Plant including the’Medical use has been in place since 2020.

Cannabis enjoys widespread support in Paraguay

The legislature Dionisio Amarilla, the Commission's rapporteur, was among those who emphasized the need to review current legislation and its impact on the country. According to Mr. Amarilla, Paraguay could pave the way for cannabis production in South America. Following this meeting, the country is beginning to consider how to make cannabis a driver of economic development.

Marcelo Demp, President of the Paraguayan Chamber of Industrial Hemp , also took part in the debate. He noted that, since 2019, the institution encouraged the cultivation of industrial hemp non-psychoactive in 14 departments, thereby promoting economic growth in rural and indigenous communities.

When asked about the significance of the event, Demp told El Planteo that the Industrial Hemp Chamber believes that «Paraguay is ready to take the big step toward allowing the psychoactive use of THC, but with the appropriate controls.». He also emphasized that the country had «a great opportunity to become the leader in the legal cannabis market in the region »and to become an industrial power.".

Not to mention the scientific aspect, the Dr. Hernán Codas, a member of the Scientific Society of Paraguay and the Paraguayan Cannabis Observatory, offered a perspective that contradicted what had been widely accepted for so many years. Codas pointed out that Cannabis is not as addictive as other, stronger drugs . He therefore called for take advantage of legal production.

The Paraguayan Cannabis Cooperative was present, and its representative was Juan Carlos Cabezudo , who stated that «the foundation of any serious endeavor for this country must be the decriminalization of the plant«. He thus aspires to a far-reaching legal reform that will bring prosperity.

Lawmakers such as José Oviedo, Eduardo Nakayama, Ignacio Iramain, Ever Villalba, Patrick Kemper, Rubén Velázquez, Lilian Samaniego, Celeste Amarilla, and Esperanza Martínez took part in this debate. Citizens who are interested in and actively involved in the issue also joined the event.