Peru: Congress authorizes associative self-cultivation of medical cannabis

The Peruvian Congress has approved a bill which now authorizes patient associations listed in the official register to cultivate cannabis for medical use. Visit Peru legalized medical cannabis in 2017.

The Plenary Assembly of the Congress of the Republic of Peru has approved the incorporation and modification of the articles of Law 30681, regulating the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives, guaranteeing access to those who need it.

The initiative was presented by Congressmen Rocío Silva Santiesteban, Alberto de Belaunde de Cárdenas, Daniel Olivares, Daniel Urresti and Luis Andrés Roel.

With 100 votes in favor, none against and four abstentions, the national assembly approved the replacement text of PL 6532 in the first vote.

What can Peru's medicinal cannabis self-cultivation initiative achieve?

The new proposal amends the Penal Code and the previous law and adds:

• people on the National Register of Cannabis Users (or their representatives) to be able to form associations and obtain a license to grow the plant
• guaranteed access to cannabis for patients who need it, without cost being an obstacle
• that associative culture be regulated by the Peruvian State
• that patients and relatives who today already produce their own derivatives of the plant stop being criminalized

According to Daniel Urresti , head of the Defense Committee, this new regulation will benefit more than 50,000 people.