The new president of Colombia, Gustav Petro, proposed expand the legalization of cannabis, whose cultivation and commercialization is already allowed in the country for medicinal purposes.
(See: Bogotá’s plan to diversify the local export supply).
“Let’s talk: what happens if cannabis is legalized in Colombia without licenses? How to plant corn, how to plant potatoes“, said the leftist president during a meeting with mayors of the southwestern country, where Illegal marijuana plantations abound.
Colombia, the world’s leading producer of cocaine, legalized medical cannabis in 2016. Since then, several foreign companies have received licenses to produce and export marijuana, but trade for recreational purposes remains penalized.
(See: Launch of the first medical cannabis phytotherapeutic laboratory).
“If we are going to legalize cannabis, are we going to keep all those people imprisoned in overcrowded jails or is it time to release a lot of people?“, raised Petro, adding that “they were criminalized for something that in much of the United States is legal“.
In recent years, several countries such as South Africa, Uruguay and Canada have legalized marijuana, as have some US states.
Dissidents of the peace pact that disarmed the former FARC guerrilla in 2017, ELN rebels and other armed groups are fighting over blood and fire for the income from drug trafficking and other illegal businesses in various regions of Colombia, which has recorded almost 60 massacres so far. so far this year.
(See: Ministry of Justice gives “green light” to the use of cannabis).
“Let’s get the people together (to discuss legalization). Even those who are armed arrive unarmed“said the president.
Petro has called to finish the “unsuccessful“ drug war, in which the United States is Colombia’s main partner.
Washington says it is open to a “open and honest conversation” about the topic.
AFP
