$0.06 Production Cost per Gram Colombia Approves Marijuana Legalization and Export Law, Now What?

It seems Colombia will be the next country to legalize cannabis. Last Tuesday, lawmakers voted unanimously to pass a bill that would have legalized and nationally regulated cannabis. The proposal represents the first phase of legalization. The proposed decision would lay the groundwork for the legal sale of cannabis and guarantee that tax revenues could be shared among communities and used to fund things like education and public health. By a vote of 31 to 2, the First Committee of the House of Representatives approved legislation introduced by Rep. Carlos Ardila.

The proposal provides an overview of how marijuana legalization will work and impact the nation. The bill explains several things in Spanish, including that the drug’s legal use is for adults. It also promotes a narrative that echoes what the Colombian President has said since his election: that the criminal aspect of cannabis should be eliminated. At the same time, harm reduction and public health should be a priority.

Gustavo Petro, the country’s first leftist president, and Francia Márquez, the first black woman to serve as vice president, are working to change international drug laws.

At least two cannabis legalization bills have recently advanced through the legislature, including this one. Another motion by Juan Carlos Losada, a Liberal MP, was approved by the First Commission last month. He also recently wrote a letter to President Petro asking for support for his bill. e While Petro has publicly condemned the global approach to criminalizing drugs, he has yet to endorse any of the individual cannabis reform proposals.

Petro’s Opinion on the War on Drugs and Cannabis Policy

Petro has urged Colombia to abandon the “ineffective” drug policies created by the United States and instead chart its course. Petro is a strong supporter of marijuana legalization. Petro said he found keeping marijuana a secret ridiculous.

With millions of lives at risk under the existing system, Petro warned UN members last month that “democracy will perish” unless world powers unite to lift the ban and pursue an alternative strategy. In another interview last month, the President claimed that the United States and other nations would facilitate a genocide of preventable overdose deaths if the existing quo of criminalization were maintained.

Recently, Petro also discussed Colombia’s potential to legalize marijuana to reduce the influence of the black market. He also suggested that those currently imprisoned for cannabis use be released to implement the political reform. He discussed the potential economic impact of a legal cannabis economy. One where small villages in regions like the Andes, Miranda and Corinto can benefit from growing marijuana legally, possibly without the need for a license. The president also indicated that he would be willing to explore the possibility of exporting marijuana to countries where it’s legal.

US-Colombia Relations

Home Rules Committee Chairman US Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) welcomed Petro’s official swearing-in and expressed enthusiasm for working together to review regulations and more.

On the other hand, President Joe Biden seems determined to continue the drug war in Colombia with the help of American forces. In August, he issued a document to the defense minister authorizing the banning of aircraft believed to be primarily involved in drug trafficking in Colombian airspace.

He explained that this was necessary for Colombia’s national security due to the exceptional risk posed by the illegal drug trade. Colombia has appropriate approaches in place to prevent the loss of innocent lives related to such operations in the region, including practical methods of detecting and alerting an aircraft before launching an attack against the aircraft.

However, in a joint presentation with Petro on Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US normally supports his holistic approach to drugs. For his part, the Colombian president said countries “need to approach the war on drugs differently.

A former guerrilla soldier in Colombia’s M-19 group, Petro has witnessed the bloody war between narco-paramilitary organizations, guerrilla fighters and drug cartels, exacerbated by the government’s tough anti-narcotics policies.

Despite Colombian measures to reduce drug supply, such as destroying laboratories and eradicating the coca bush, the United Nations Office for Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) claims that Colombia is still the world’s largest exporter of cocaine.

Previous attempts at fabric regulation

In 2020, in recognition of the failure of the government’s decades-long effort to combat the drug and related practices, Colombian lawmakers sponsored a bill that could have regulated coca. This herb is treated to make cocaine. Although a committee approved this bill, the Conservative legislature eventually voted to reject it.

Proponents hope their idea will gain traction under a Petro administration. Although he did not express a firm opinion on the legislation during the campaign, the President did advocate for the legalization of marijuana and marketed it as a safer alternative to cocaine.

Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia’s former president, has also criticized the drug war and supported change. Before leaving office, he condemned President Nixon of the United States and the United Nations for their role in setting a standard for the war on drugs, which has been unsuccessful and destructive at best.

He added that it is time to talk about proper government regulation, look for ways to cut off the drug mafia’s air supply and tackle drug use problems with more resources for care, prevention and harm reduction.

According to Santos, a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, this reflection needs to have a worldwide reach to be very effective. It must also involve a wide range of stakeholders, including academics, civil society and governments. In addition to law enforcement and the judiciary, professionals from various fields such as public health, business and education must be involved.

Conclusion

Hopefully, the proposal will be translated into legislation that will establish rules and a tax framework for the sale of legal marijuana. The money raised will be shared among local governments to support education, public health and agricultural activities. This promotes a better life in Colombia.

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