Medical marijuana bill passes 1st hurdle in Colombia’s senate debate
Medical marijuana bill passes 1st hurdle in Colombia’s senate debate
Nov 12, 2014 posted by Joel Gillin
A proposed law which would legalize the medicinal use of cannabis in Colombia passed the first hurdle yesterday after a Senate commission approved the bill, according to local media. The bill, proposed by Liberal Party Senator Juan Manuel Galan, would allow the government to regulate the use of therapeutic and medicinal marijuana while also allowing scientific research.
Galan posted a long series of tweets the day of the debate, many of which highlighted the medicinal benefits of the plant: “Through medical marijuana we can treat sickness and pains that cannot be treated with opiates.” The bill received the support of Colombia’s current administration, which has expressed support in the past for the liberalization of the country’s drug laws.
MORE: Santos in favor of legalizing medical marijuana in Colomba
Broader support
“This project is of great importance to the country… in a country like Colombia, it is very important that we open a public debate on this topic, without disqualifications, stigmatization, or polarization,” Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo said regarding the debate, according to El Tiempo.
Another senator supporting the law, Roy Barreras of the U Party, described the law as “timid” and called for the legalization of marijuana and cocaine for recreational use.
“Marijana and cocaine is demonized with the argument that they are bad. But chicarron and chorizo (types of meat) are worse as they cause heart attacks and clog the arteries,” argued Barreras, who is also a doctor. Other supporters of the initiative include the Catholic church in Colombia, according to Galan.
More:
http://colombiareports.co/medical-marijuana-law-passes-first-colombian-senate-debate/
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