Peru: Congress seeks to reduce authorized quantities of cannabis

The minority Somos Perú democratic party has presented the Peruvian Congress with a document that aims to halve the amount of cannabis currently set at eight grams of weed and 2 grams of its derivatives. While the marijuana industry is making inroads around the world, in Peru it is introducing a bill to amend criminal law.

According to the Somos Perú party, this initiative is aimed at attacking drug trafficking networks and small-time dealers, and discouraging cannabis consumption. The political group alleges that Among other things, cannabis use causes neurochemical disorders in the brain, alters moods, leads to family problems, cardiovascular problems, pregnancy problems and sexual dysfunction.

The bill also tackles the authorized quantities of other drugs. These include cocaine base paste (from 5 grams to 1 gram) and cocaine hydrochloride (from 2 grams to 1 gram). The text does not limit the possession of ecstasy, currently banned above 200 milligrams.

Against the development of medical cannabis

The proposal to limit authorized quantities of cannabis runs counter to the development of medical cannabis in the country. Visit legalized it in 2017 and has just granted his first license for the import and sale of medical cannabis to Canadian company Khiron Life Sciences Corp, which already operates in Colombia.

Khiron Life Sciences has signed an exclusive agreement with Farmacia Universal S.A.C, a Peruvian laboratory operating a network of 10 pharmacies. The latter will process the cannabis grown by Khiron in Colombia and distribute it to its pharmacies in Peru.