Post by scumbuster on Dec 25, 2015 10:09:50 GMT -5
BOGOTA – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday signed into law a measure legalizing and regulating the medicinal use of marijuana.
“We have just taken an important step to place Colombia in the vanguard of the fight against disease and we’re doing it via a decree that seeks to take advantage of the benefits of cannabis to improve people’s lives,” Santos said during a ceremony where he was accompanied by Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria.
The president added, “Let’s be clear, allowing the medicinal use of cannabis doesn’t go against our international commitment regarding the control of drugs and, even less so, against our policy of fighting drug trafficking.”
Santos added that the manufacture, export, sale and use for medical and scientific purposes of pot and other narcotics have been permitted for several decades in Colombia, but no regulations had been established to date.
The president noted that the decree was prepared jointly by the health and justice ministries with input from the Agriculture Ministry.
The decree establishes a procedure to expedite the issuing of licenses for possession of cannabis seeds, as well as for establishing farm plots for the plant, provided that it is designated exclusively for medical and/or scientific ends.
Santos also said that it is OK to develop the production of medications made from cannabis “as we do with any natural element that can provide relief for those who are sick and in pain.”
The president said that many states in the United States, and countries like Canada, The Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Chile already allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
“What we’re seeking is for patients to be able to get access to drugs produced locally that are safe, of high quality and accessible. This is also an opportunity to incentivize scientific research in (Colombia),” he said.
“We have just taken an important step to place Colombia in the vanguard of the fight against disease and we’re doing it via a decree that seeks to take advantage of the benefits of cannabis to improve people’s lives,” Santos said during a ceremony where he was accompanied by Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria.
The president added, “Let’s be clear, allowing the medicinal use of cannabis doesn’t go against our international commitment regarding the control of drugs and, even less so, against our policy of fighting drug trafficking.”
Santos added that the manufacture, export, sale and use for medical and scientific purposes of pot and other narcotics have been permitted for several decades in Colombia, but no regulations had been established to date.
The president noted that the decree was prepared jointly by the health and justice ministries with input from the Agriculture Ministry.
The decree establishes a procedure to expedite the issuing of licenses for possession of cannabis seeds, as well as for establishing farm plots for the plant, provided that it is designated exclusively for medical and/or scientific ends.
Santos also said that it is OK to develop the production of medications made from cannabis “as we do with any natural element that can provide relief for those who are sick and in pain.”
The president said that many states in the United States, and countries like Canada, The Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Chile already allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
“What we’re seeking is for patients to be able to get access to drugs produced locally that are safe, of high quality and accessible. This is also an opportunity to incentivize scientific research in (Colombia),” he said.