Medical Marijuana Now Legal in Colombia

• comments
• 
• 

Colombia has been having problems on stopping illegal drug production for so many years. The battle against different cartels claimed so many lives and destroyed families in the past. However, the country's war against drugs did not stop President Juan Manuel Santos to sign a decree on legalizing the sale of marijuana in Colombia for medical purposes, Yahoo! News reported.

The signing happened on Tuesday, which will also legalize the planting of the herbs, also known scientifically as Cannabis sativa. It will also allow the citizens of their country to import, export and process marijuana for scientific and medical use.

Colombia has long been a U.S. partner in war against dangerous drugs, in which they exchange intelligence to take down drug cartels.

According to a report by The Cannabist, the country has joined other Latin American nations such as Mexico and Chile, which have previously legalized marijuana in their experiment to change their approach toward their drug policies. Products that are marijuana-based had already been sold to the market years ago in Colombia, which Santos explained that legalizing the plant has already been overdue.

The president said during the signing ceremony that the new law "represents a major step that put Colombia at the vanguard and forefront of the fight against illnesses."

In a report by Yahoo! News, the president has also addressed the nation through a country-wide televised program after approving the new law.

"This decree allows licenses to be granted for the possession of seeds, cannabis plants and marijuana. It places Colombia in the group of countries that are at the forefront... in the use of natural resources to fight disease."

Santos also stated that the newly-signed decree does not mean they will stop their support to eradicate the illegal drug trade. The president made it clear that they will still go after cartels and other drug-related groups.

Marijuana legalization has been a very controversial topic. However, more and more countries are supporting its legality, provided that it is for medical and scientific usage.

International critics as well as opposing local groups are seeing this latest development in a different manner. They said that the government's strength in fighting the illegal drug trade has been weakened by their new policies. This includes Santos' order to stop spraying herbicides to illegal coca crops that will be used to make cocaine.

Santos had previously admitted to have smoked pot while studying at the University of Kansas in the 70's. However, he mentioned that marijuana should not be sold for recreational use.